The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-08-07
QUAKER GARB GOING
"FRiENDs" oRADUALLYApop-
INC DRESS OF THE woRLp.
Que MsmbSris Opinion of xt-n.
ony-9ownsa WershIpers Of o.
Tines Have Given Place 60 "
Arraysd Rashionanls ClosAs..

AAS read dugn Wynne-t
must surely remember how scandaI,-s1
were many OF the friends of the H.,
century when Mistress Marie Wvrn.
the mother of Hugh, broke thror.e
the narrow lines which in thos. A..
were drawn about quaker women.
dress, and following her French tsr.
put upon her cap q bright colorea IN
bon and bedecked herself In coIor,
more suited to her own-liEht-heart.1
nature than was the sober quaker gr,v
But that was many years axo whs,
the quakers were stricter than NOV
says the New York Tribune. At least
SO IT seemed TO the onlookers who vers
present during the yearly meeting ben
by the friends lately at their meet,nr
house in Rutherford square.
! The sober meeting room vbere IN.
members assembled was not decorates
with the national colors, as lust nov
Is the fashion at other GATHERINGS nm,
sweet-faced woman said thar thi.
was from no lack Of patriotism hut
rather because OF the Quakers' inhor,
dislike for the employment Of decor.-
ton OF any sort. Be that as II NAV.
it is certain that the latter-day friends
have given up the distinctive dress
which their ancestors wore for gen.
erations and have blossomed forth an
gayly as any descendant Of the men
and women whom John Wynne dis.
trusted long ago.
leading into the meeting room and in
stead Of beholding the sober, decorow
garb, there seemed to be fields ol
freshly blooming flowers. roses. lilacs
and carnations. with all the wild flow
ers known and loved-buttercups
daisies, dandelions and the beautiful
trailing arbutus.
The absence Of the quaker dress was
commented upon and a woman pres
ent said: We'll, yes, it seems to be
going out Of use more and more every
year. OF course, some Of the older
friends will continue to wear II as long
as they live, because of their old As.
sociations with it, but the youngeF
members, with a few exceptions, DO MOI
adopt it; especially Is this true Of tbs
larger cities. l don't see how they ever
called it becoming. l think 1t IS the
reverse. For myself, have never
worn it at all. You see. when my
father and mother came east before
the war mother was wearing the quak-
er gown and bonnet and she continued
to do so for year or two afterward.
Then, somehow or other, she became
dissatisfied with 1t and adopted the
more fashionable dress worn at that
period by New York women. So We
children were not accustomed to see
ing the dress worn at home and conse-
quently we did not adopt it for our
own wear. My mother never put on
the dress again. She kept the old gown
in which she had travelled to New York
to her of the many happy days which
she had spent with the friends out In
Indiana"
But there are some women here
who wear the quaker Dress" said the
reporter.
"Oh, yes, some few; but you won't
see more than ten women today who
wear the gray gown and close bonnet
which their mothers and grandmother
wore before them. Now, Just look
over there and she pointed out
handsome, gray-haired woman. WHOSE
rich bonnet and gown would. IN an
other assemblage, have given no hint
of her religious belief.
She is a prominent friend, and yes
look how far away she has drifted from
the old custom"
Just then the reporters attention was
directed to a pretty little quaker sit
ting beside her mother. II was evident
that the vanities of this world haa
tempted her beyond. resistance, for n@
little white frock showed hints OF pink
through its meshes and here and thsre.
holding its folds in place, was saan
ribbon cleaning brightly, while hsr
golden curls were caught back noD
her forehead by rose-pink bows q
satin. She made such q dainty, prenN
picture that one could not help won>
dering il, in olden times. the quaken
maidens looked as charming In tneR
sober dress as did this little fairy.