St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-05-12

The timehas gone by when Ia woman
tould neglect her personal appearance
and eXpecther friends OF those of her
own household TO accept as an excuse
for such conduct the old, "Oh, l am so
busy have no time to think of clothes"
Dress is an important matter and is so
considered by all wise, far-seeing
women. The question comes up for
discussion on all sides. The editor of
The woman's department OF the Chicago
Herald answers a correspondent, who
asks her opinion on the question, thus
A correspondent asks: ION what
side of the dress fence would you advise
a woman to stand; that is, for her
social and business interests"
This departments "sense of all
around discretion" prompts reply that
happy medium pertaining to dress"
will stand a woman best in hand if she
must unite business and social interests.
Social approval cannot be gained by
all effort TO unite eXtravagancPS of style
with necessary ''remuperatiYe Y0ca-
tons"
On the other side a woman cannot,
without personal influence or previous
acquaintance, secure business position
that is reasonably lucrative if her attire
stamps her application for employment
as "needful.p
Business takes advantage of stress of
circumstances. Good clothes Of a mod
ish make united with Indifferent ability
81 II, Il H..
for job. Shabby attire, however neat,
united WitG apparent competency,
comes in for h second chance. If this
second chand e happen to gel an oppor-
tunity to prove lis Intrinsic worth it
may gain advancement after it is able
to dress itself with better stuff of more
fashionable make.
1T is fact that woman's toilet is one
of the strong elements that has to do
with her social and business success.
Don't pin your faith to this carping on
''neat simplicity" 1t sounds very
lovely, but it.gets left every time when
It comes to a practical test. The good
girl in her trim little frOck is called a
pretty sort, bat, bless you. "unsophisti-
Gated" isn't 1.-THE style" that takes in
he social void. The good girl must
.ook smart if lshe wants respectful rec
OgnitiOn.
True merit, in social, intellectual,
moral and business lines may win sue
cess, but it HIS an awful struggle to get
there WithOuP reasonably mOdish gear
.ng in the shape of smart clothes.
This Is the fge of dress agitation, and
there seems tb be no end of argument
i'll favor OF Ella Grafton of styles and for
dress refOrm.l Both sides are vigorously
1T it, with victory for either not at all
In sight. Quite likely there will always
DC extremes Jpn this matter, as well as
.he "happy medium"
1t is to be Hoped that we may, at an
Early day, be done with this nonsense
about the hal bpering Of progreSsveness
by the follies bf fashion. Women have
cone right up TO the front with their
dainty bonnets and pretty gowns and
chic frillS. Looking the business
squarely in tie face il may reasonably
DC doubted whether she could have at
tained her prd sent Importance rugged up
according to. severe and unattractiYe
reform modes"
1t is a stark truth that the woman who
goes in for charity or any other cause,
fashionably g0wned and hated and
cloaked, witfa diamand or SOFAS orna-
ment, and just enough furbelow to be
chic, that SORT of woman is the winner
for benefit 5" and rights" and
causes"