Smyrna times., 1876-09-13
mise eIIUN e OMS.
What is Extravaganza 2

more money for books" This principal
was wise man, and most successful
manager of educational affairs, but he
knew nothing of dress material.
Like most others of his sex, he imagined
that if a woman wore calico, she was dres-
sed economically. That this was not the
opinion of the person addressed, may be in
ferred from the remark made by one of
them as he passed on: why, what can we
wear, that is cheaper than "fifty cent"
black alpaca?
We confess to being tired of the constant
ringing of this word calico in the ears of
the SEX as though the tide of extravaganza
in dress that is now rolling over our
country might be instantly stayed, if
women would but come back to the exclu-
.iye u-e of this seemingly inexpensive
material. For many people it may be in
expensive, but we speak advisedly when
We say that calico dress is one of the
most costly ever worn by a school teacher.
To prove the assertion, let us call in the
all Of those illustrious truthtellers yelept
figures. which "never tell lie." The
nervous wear and tear Of the profession,
combined with the appetizing attractions
of boarding house tables, not tending to
produce corpulency, school mistresses, as a
rule, may not be classed with Pharaoh's
fat kline; hence, a plainly made dress of
calico would require twelve yards of ma
terial, which, at the average price of eleven
cents per yard, would make tho original
bill stand thus:
Twelve yards calico at 11c................$l.3
Lining and tons........................... so
l.5O
Of course this wonderfully inexpensive
dress must be laundried after a weeks
wear, in order not to be limp; so another
must be procured to do duty in its place
every other week; the amount then
becomes double, and we have.
S 32X2 $6.64
Laundress' bill for 30weeks at
$50
During these thirty weeks, one black
alpaca dress may be made to do excellent
service by an occasional sponging with
clear. cold water, and the shrinkage and
loss Of color incident to the frequent wash
ing OF a print be altogether avoided. If
tie black dress be made as plainly as the
calico, ten yards Of the first will go as far
in making up as twelve Of the last, and the
expenses Of the one alpaca will be but half
Of the expenditure upon the two calicoes.
Provided, however, that little elaborate
style be desired for the handsomer mater
al, We find that the fifteen yards will
fashion a modestly trimmed garment. Our
problem will then stand
Fifteen yards Of alpaca at
.3O
20
20
We have calculated this amount for the
thirty weeks during which an alpaca dress
may be comfortably worn, in nearly all
sections of our country, and have contented
ourselves with showing the difference in
expense, as may be seen, is nearly three
dollars in favor of the better fabric, leaving
out Of consideration the fact that every
woman, be she fair or dark, tall or short
finds black dress the most becoming oi
any she can wear, and, consequently, the
one in which she feels most at her case
Fresh linen, at the neck and wrists, with
a knot or bow of some bright ribbon, will
enliyen the solemnity of the black, anC
give the teacher a feeling Of security il
greeting well dressed visitors, that canno
be inspired by the calico, with which dres
ribbon as an ornament, or a watch as I
convenience, are never appropriately
worn.
Il does not follow that a woman is ex
traVagant because her attire is of respecta
bic mGterial, and is handsomely made, an.
more than it proves that another is econ
oinieal who arrays herself in calico. TIL
hrst act in accordance with the strictes
Of economy in chosing the best her circum
stances allow; the second buys chcal
goods because of their cheapness, and hs
continually to purchase in order to replsc
the wear and tear of a poor material
That teachers pay too little for self-cultur
a lamentable fact, but are far from al
nbuting this neglect TO an inordinat
desire for fine clothes, Six hours labor j
lhe school room, with from two to fou
hours work additional, almost daily, in tn
imposing of extra tasks upon offenders, b
way Of punishment, (which punish tn
'eaeher more than they do the scholsr,l
ne correction Of written exercises, in tn
recording Of statistics, or in the prepar
uOn Of examination papers, leaves tt
"eaned head of the school but lit
strength or inclination for study or soil
saaing. Instructor and pupil would bot
benefited by change in the scho
system, through which no work should
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