The Princeton union., 1891-10-08
FOR AND ABOUT WOMEN.
AND VALUABLE
READlNGFORT THE LADIES.
comes Natural to Women--Cost OF
Clothes--An Independent
Princess--To Hold Child
In Bed--George Gould's
Domestic Wife,
Cost Of Clothes.

How much does a girl in society re-
quires to dress upon?" A gentlemen
with large income, but with no end
OF calls upon it, would like this ques-
tlon answered on a liberal but by no
means an extravagant SCALE He
naturally wishes his daughter to be
we'll and creditably dressed, and he
also naturally deprecates extrava-
gance and want Of management. We
have asked opinions from good
many persons who are supposed to
know, and we find that 5000 ought
to "trlrn out, " a girl reasonably well.
OF course, this would notgo far if she
buys thirty dollar hats and 5000
gowns, etc, but with careful handling
it may be adequate OF course, any
number of girls spend four times that
amount, and even more. "My daugh-
ter will have to marry rich man"
said a wealthy woman the other day.
"She has 900 a. year Of her own,
and she spends every dollar OF 1T on
herself!''- sad commentary, by the
way, on the selfshness and luxurious
habits that the world teaches.
Another young woman, who is not
at all frivolous, but who dresses re-
markably we'll, and who rides on the
crest OF the fashionable wave in New
York and Newport, tells us that
ST, 200 covers all her personal expens-
es. "But I do not buy many things
at very grand Places" she continues.
Jackets | always get ofthe very best,
and one or two gowns from the swell
lest houses; but the rest of my dresses
are made by a seamstress at home,
and l generally make most of my
own hats, buying one or two really
good ones as models" AS this al
!owance meets the requirements of an
intelligent girl in society, who goes out
winter and summer, and is "never out
OF the swim,' it may well be taken as
a standard for that sort of thing. For
girl who only goes out moderately
$500 should be ample. But we should
cite the instance Of one pretty maiden
who only has $500 year to buy all
her belongings, and who, nevertheless,
always looks as fresh as daisy and
just as delightfully."- simple.
Comes Natural to Women.
Self-sacrifice comes natural to
women. Much Of it is born in them,
and what is not is ground into them
from their childhood by education.
For the sake of her home duties a girl
gives up amusements and privileges
which her brother would never be ex-
pected to fOrego for like reason. AS
she grows older the spirit grows en-
couraged by all tradition and outside
influence. Often it's power masters
her altogether, and her life becomes
one long devotion to endless labor
and acceptance Of unpleasant things,
that the pleasant part OF living may
be kept for the rest Of the family.
The purely useless side OF this entire
self-abnegation must sometimes strike
the beholder. Such effacing of individ-
uality is not uncommon, and it gives
as little real benefit to the family as
it does to the individual.
Putting aside the moral effect on the
younger members of a family brought
up to regard their mother as ma
chine run for the family service, does
the woman who so gives herself for the
well-being of her family really accom-
plish all she desires? If she work
without pause or slackening, day in
and day out, does she always feel sat-
isfed, with admiring onlookers, that
1T is the noblest way to so spend her
health and energies? If.she renounces
all recreation and higher life for her
self, and gives up all communion OF
mind and spirit with her husband and
children, is the reward adequate that
is paid to them in better-kept house,
a more bountifully supplied larder, or
handsomer clothes? VI ..
Ii overfatlgue causes her to become
petulant or complaining is not the at
mosphere OF home more greatly in
jured than the added cleaning and
cooking can repair? II she is too
worn out to give sympathy and help
to the children's joys and sorrows
what do the finer clothes and furni-
ture obtained avail? And if, as some
times happens, outraged nature
gives way, and others must step into
the breach, do, their work and the
played-out woman's as we'll, and
take care Of her into the bargain,
what has she gained by her extreme
efforts that she has not lost by the,
breakdown?
A Life laid down in worthy cause
is not lost, but gained; but is this
cause worthy?-Harper's Bazaar.
Am independent Princess.
When the present Dowager Empress.
OF Germany first arrived at Berlin the
stiff and starched old dowager OF the.
Prtlssian Court took great ofense be-
cause the wife OF their. future sovereign
insisted upon not calling upon herlady
in waiting to perform amy little SER
vice for her, such as picking ,,p her
gloves or handkerchief If she let them
fall, or bringing her q book from shelf
or table at the other side OF the room.
The Princess Royal Of England had
never been accustomed to such total