The sun., 1880-07-04

The Coumon Sense Of American Girls Revolt
ing Against n Fashionable Folly.

The Common Sense Of American Girls Revolt
lag Against n Fashionable Folly.
nom he obu,sr.JrnndL
New YORK, June 2S.-An important and
salutary change is taking place in the prepnra-
ton OF brides trousseanx., and one that viii
have deeper and more lasting effect than
might be anticipated from ary matter that be-
longs to the wardrobe 1t has bceu the custom
ply the daughters troussesu on her marriage
WITHOUT any references to her future condition
me- Res sm tRd ny o her wso Mother nsf
or the previous -, extent and nature OF
her BELONGINGS. The presents were made
with the future means and position OF tho mar
rl"i couple but to suit the style and belongings
II the brides parents 80 that 1t Is not at all un-
row income. yet actually burdened with fine
clothes and ornamental gimcracks. The hnery
elaborate and costly would be much more suit
able; ihe gorgeous pieces OF silver or plated lated
where % the they % are exchanged ~ for something t6st
" Ali this is the height Of folly. and very differ
England. There. no mntter what the wealth
OF the parents. the brides outfit is graded by
OF her position as a wife. il he is higher in the
social scale every effort is made to provide that
which is suitable for more exalted rank; but
H. ns Ia frequently the cnse here. he 10 a young
man without means and with his place to make
in the world, the money that would have been
housch I'D articles or wisely invested for the
girls benefit.
This meth cd has been strictly followed In sew
ernl well-known families recently. where the
daughters haye married young men OF good
position. but limited income. The trousseaux
In these cases were very moderate and consist
ed OF useful and practical rather than rich and
ornamental articles. such garments. in fact as
could he replaced when, necessary without de-
plcting too fast and too far the husbands purse.
The unappropriaed funds in one instance fur
nished all the linen and the china for the new
States four per cent. bond, the interest OF which
will nj least enable the wife to buy her husband
Christmas presents without drawing upon him
Many a poor bride has had costly trained
dresses laid away in her trunks. costly, ,knick:
no spnce. who had not dollar she could call
her own to give or to spend or to keep. 1t 10
time such folly was stopped and more se1si-
with good outfit: II Is sometimes the only one
they ever have in their lives.
n very large number OF Dresses, Tor the former
are ensiIy supplied and renewed. and the lat
ter go out of fashion and have to be remodelled
A very fashionable. but also n very sensible
girl was asked recently IN regard to her trous.
trousseau." she said very cooy
Not going to have any trousseauP' They
No: why should /? l have enough OF
clothes and bl2ck elk and my travelling
nrSSS. IN wnlcn snail be- married, Will be all
snail require for jack, you know. is poor and
W.. DO not expect to 40 into society very much"
But why not have 1t, when you could Just as
well rs not?' chorussed the Gris.
Because | would rather have the money"
,u, oG what merrenary girl. laughed her
was simply capable OF reflection and of carry.
ing ont purpose.
For the extravaganza in fashionable circles
Of vain and foolish mothers. partly OF the vi
cious system pursued by so many rich fathers
Of permitting bills to be run w, here and there,
that anything is gained by saving. or that they
have any financial responsibility:
Among the middle or professional classes q
great many girls now earn. in one way or an
other. the income which supports them or fur
nishes their clothing and spending. money.
have helped greatly toward this end and In
kindergartens young girls are now doing for
venerable old ladies did for the Young children
of the last century in their infant schools.
M"ssashrs"',s s,a shows larger nnmber than
women-and what splendid class OF girls they
are!, Quiet. modest. sell poised. their one aim
ior education and put them to good use. Their
purpose is Apparent in their simple. refined
dress dress stripped OF every snpsriiuiiy Dark
their dress. irrespective Of fashion, yet they
look sufficiently fashionable. Their steadiast-
OF leartache. knowing how little the
world cares for such. how hard a world 1t is.
ana now cruelty the many have. in so many
ways, to bear the sins oi the few.
Tho great improvement in the dress OF the
college AMI high school girls is evidence OF
their Willingness to adout better method when
1t IL shown them. MS well MS by tn" fact that
dress subOrdinutes itself nj once TO higher in
terestS when these obtain n iOOthold. Finery
and gewgaws which require attention aud con-
slant change nre Incompatible with devotion
to exacting and absorbing studies. When STU
dents find this out they drop them and cult-
vnte a Kind of dress that does not take their
attention from their work. that il simple and
that il easily adjusted. This has become
the rnle in all tirst-cass women's colleges
and in the best Of the collegiate institutes high
schools. and seminaries. When such colleges
were first established dress was n source of in.
finite trouble from the want OF what was proper
and suitable, and the superahundance OF what
was improper and unnecessary. The teachers
tthat is the women teachers) were as much at
sea Rs their pupils. AT ono OF the first COM
mencements at Vassar the lady professors
made their appearance upon the platform in
tho most extraordinary mixture OF Dolly Var
den costumes. with wide baby sashes in strong
colors. No caricature could have exaggerated
them.
Teachers now. as rule restrict themselves
to plain black or some neutral tint, and have
gained imneasurahly in consequence. for IL
one cannot bo fully equipped for contest in
fashion. 1t IS best to be armed with neutrality,
Fashion as a bugbrar. however. no longer ex-
lists. Women of intelligence dress as they
please. JENNIE JUNE.