Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-02-12

or our dearest friend or our bitterest en-
envy wore a shabby gown, didn't go
to the opera. gave up the carriage or
was not seen on an ocean steamer that
yenr. the explanation--a very weak one
--always was that I'VE didn't care TO-
AS IL any woman would prefer wearing
shabby frocks, as II any woman, wheth-
err she liked music or not. would prefer
to give up the opera, or as II any Woth-
amor any man. for that matter-pre-
ferred to give up the good thlhBs vi
life, But we used to he such TOOLS
about it, Weak as the explanation was
we pretended to believe that other PEG
ple believed us. Everybody knew tnht
we were liars. and pretty poor ones,
Nowadays we tell the truth ana Shame
TINT worldly gentleman in black, ana |
people call us noble. Madam Aristo-
Graf. who is as stingy as ever she can |
be. goes visiting In n frock made IN the
DAYS of the Modes and Persians, clasps |
her hands In tragic way and says Il
know am a sight. but really cannot
afford n new frock" 1t is fashionable
to be poor, though there are great
many people who are In fashion who
would rather have more ducats and be
less stylish. Still this truth telling fe-
yer is not as bad as 1t might be, for 1t
does give a reason. and a sensible one,
for n great many things. II makes II
nossible for mere ordinary everyday
neon,e to do ps they should and keep
out ~ debt. and to be perfectly frank as
IN yvhy they are not foolishly extrava-
giant.
II ia always the poor who are extrav-
aganl. The rich woman utilities every
scrap of material, has every gown made
over and keeps rich because she Is eco
nomical The poor woman is so despcr-
ately afraid OF being thought poor that
she goes into debt does not give the
proper wear to her belongings and car
rIes burden on her shoulders that
makes her old and ugly before her time.
once had the pleasure of going into
the wardrobe room of very wealthy
woman. and that wardrobe room was
nm object lesson to me. 1t was a large.
light room on the top floor of the house.
with wardrobes built around It on all
sides, drawers being under these ward
robes, and with high shelves built above
them to hold bonnet boxes. Here all
gowns were kept. Those that were to
be worn were ready for assumption.
Those that had been worn came up to
be brushed, looked over and carefully
put away Here all day long sat two
maids sewing. brushing and making
over, while the greatest care was given
to each portion of a frock when 1t was
put away. Sleeves were stuffed with
tissue paper to keep them In shape.
Bits OF colored tissue paper went over
white lace to prevent Its becoming yell
low. Parasols were softly wrapped in
thin white wool stuff. Boots. shoes and
slippers were all on their trees and
ato In, bn
box had written upon 1t in big letters
terse description of the hat in II. SO
that one did not lose ones temper by
going tn. ough innumerable boxes
searching for one particular chapeau
Most remarkable of all were the boxes
filled with gowns that had been ripped
apart. When u dress had done its duty
in life the thrifty maid took II, ripped
Il carefully apart. made 1t immaculate
ly clean and then sized its posslbili
ties. The silk lining was folded, anC
on the paper wrapping 1t was written
Here Is enough purple silk to make
petticoat." The brocade that formed
the dress was also carefully done up
its measurement described, and Their
was suggested In writing. This viii
make handsome sofa pillow" or "Thi
may be developed into party bags o
chair covers" The finely cut steel hut
tons were wrapped separately and box
ed. The laccs were cleaned and care
fully basted on sheets Of colorcd pape
and laid in large fiat boxes. Absolute
ly nothing was wasted. The conse
quence is when new dress IL to b
made. after some thought has been Civ
en- to its general style. the maid wi
remind the mOdiste Of the eXquisit
lace founce already possessed OF tn
finely cut rhinestone buckle that was o
the pink satin or OF the set of steel but
tons that appeared on another gown
ard any one of these is ready to go fol
ward and DO duty again. Feather
from bonnets are In special boXe
Flowers are carefully Strengthened OF
and thought given to their possible us
Nothing is counted worthless unless
Is So and the consequence is that tn
woman can afford to he generous. 81
does not give away old iinery, but whe
she wants to help she can afford to pr
her hand In her purse and offer none
to whoever needs II.
Apropos Of giving. / laughed In
half hearted way the other night. NJ
hairdresser, who is n widow with fol
small children to support and an age
mother to care for, was Juggling q
enormous brown paper box as she 81
tered the Bah mansion. She spoke
her arm being tired. but said one of h
customers had given her this box ear
in the day and told her 1t was full
some things that would be useful
her. Now n good many heads have
be dressed to support a whole famil
consequently everything must be va
ued ut its proper consideration by Il
busy woman. l suppose she saw L
curiosity in my eyes but she told I
that II l would allow her she wou
open the box. az she would like to s
her presents. l realized as looked e
actly how mean n rich woman can