The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-30
WORE THEIR A GOWNS.
SECRET WHY so III SHIRT WAISTS
WE'RE SEEN IN DENVER.

WE'RE SEEN IN DENVER.
Each Woman Went 20. the big Federation
Meeting Determined - Look Her Smart
est and She su~cceedsd-A General Agree
msnt That There Was no ovsrdressinE
One Of the echoes slowest TO die away OF the
biennial Convention Of clubwomen which met
at Denver last June is that aroused by the
dress question. It has been printed that q
similar sentiment animated at the same time
the women from several regions OF the coun-
try. The ladies' OF Utah we're whispered to in
formally by their leader, the President Of the
Utah Federation, that at Denver would
be met many Eastern women accus-
toned to a careful studying Of appropriate
dressing. It was felt by this loyal dame.
who wished her constituency not to be handi
capped by any triHlng thing. that the Utah
women could dress as we'll rs any women in
the country II their attention was called to II.
As q sort Of general guide. and undoubtedly
to bring the matter properly to their notice.
It was suREested that shirt waists except for
travelling and perhaps excursion wear should
be tabooed during the convention.
Away of In New York. where shirt waists
were AZ popular as In any other part OF the
country, the same hazy. indefinite rumor
gained ground that II would be as we'll to leave
shirt waists In the trunks after Denver was
actually reached.
At Denver itself the hostesses Of the fedora
ton. when they had time between their hos
pitable plans to think about anything SO trifiing
as clothes. said one to another: These women
are coming from the East and from the West.
and we will not meet them as q shirt-walst
brigade" 30 In that city. too. without any
formal or universal veto. it was tacitly de-
cided, individually rather then collectively,
that shirt waists should remain in boxes
while the federation was in session.
80 general was this decision that It's effect was
pronounced to non-participants at Denver. An
Eastern woman residing there commented on
the excellent appearance Of the Denver women.
II have been here six months" she says. and
as / know scarcely any one here socially. I
have seen Denver women chiefly on the streets.
They have lived all the spring. certainly. In
shirt waists. but, do you know. 1 cannot recall
now that 1 have seen q shirt waist since this
convention opened. I really didn't snow the
Denver women had such pretty clothes"
radisting rom three centres. It's influence could
not fall to be widespread. Other women com:
Ing there with shirt waists hesitated to put
them on the first morning. waiting to see what
other women wore, found t That the to, waists were
8 Fnffty aPo 81 s the WSS IN 0 Which s0s ssirti VASES W Ess
were not worn generally that upon the memora-
bic day upon which the delegates and club
clubWomen OF Idaho Valley, nearly every trav-
and skirt. They were conspicuous from their
previous and subsequent absence.
IN, Naturally nl6an Z. from 81 w AL this tax ths H the wId sT discus discus
were oyerdressed. Various public prints have
taken the matter, up, and women everywhere
have been interviewed as to individual opinions
on the matter. The mass OF testimony Is un-
doubtedly against any charge, OF oyerdressing;
a pulpit at Denver. wrote, a strong article dep
r~ecating what she termed the dress exhibition
a a P Pe9Ssnv c Of GiSr" s Bsrt sSys Or failing sne Ed sTsn1
hearing any one Of these or others like them
ae%neS'S This II t after % aRe had q RSRteadS the as ar Tel!
ment often raised in behalf of woman's atten-
ton to dress. that It vas her duty to be beauti-
Mrs. Woolley went on to assert that many Of
The public and private functions Of the iedera-
except in this general way. who these women
are. On the other hand. many. prominent
women, have come into print testifying on the
n point ottscs; there was nsys soS. mo re-. demo- mo,
ability to wear what one pleased,
The weather. was extremely hot, but so mar;
vellously dry that the sheerest organizes and
dimities kept their crispness and freshness in
the most gratifying way, Lowlsnd women, en-
sRyeu GOWNS OWE sn Without having. them mSA conve srs1d
into strings in an hour. To this was added the
aafi. Possib SSn t ! fact S5 f t6st no hair ano csSRP II II
heated argument or providing IN, close quar-
ters wiltsd ones appearance had something
women were overdressed. They looked we'll.
certainly. every minute. Mrs. Henrotin's gowns
out Of place. At most Of the day sessions she
wore. thin muslins. white, pale green. and a
ccool-looEinG !; Q pft standlnG out nov In
and suitable.
the highest social dignitarles headed the re-
ceiving parties. the distinguished women who
naturally paid their hostesses the compliment
Of their best clothes. At the GoyernoE,S recep-
t tsnaI Mrs; aenTo maG EoIE oD 2 6 sisSTeS S WhTtS SS satin
noon affair. 1t was airily trimmed with lace
ap Mr. Sa PI sfsf tRe Pyre sid aau OF 9't tRe 6iEE Denver
Woman's Club. lived in q succession OF White
dimittyy for morning. an organdie for afternoon
and silk for evening. She varied these with
fHmS eSS of New Rs 9oTHd id not Saae take sH Ser several %rsi
trunks and French maid TO Denver for nothing.
On the evenings Of the receptions she wore
sessions she, like scores and hundreds OF other
women. appeared 10 a simple cotton frock.
lions II Il suited the wearer to do So; just as
many women came IN bonnets and hiRh7necked
G EoTTd an ana II not SSid iIfreq top oBs 3 travelling rsssS suit
probably. and acceptable alike to the wearer
and those who saw her.
Mrs. Henrotin Is certainly right, SO far as
the testimony of many women can go. that
the question OF clothes was never discussed
Tasteful GOWNS. showing that the gospel
OF vogue and fashion has penetrated oven
to the most remote mountain f9pstnesses.
server. who specially studied. the assembly.
gave It as her opinion that clubwomen had re-
duced clothes TO the subjective state where
they belonged. They appreciated, the value Of
dressing as well rs possible, and certainly, as
all about their clothes. Mrs. Henrotin prob
ably hits the nail on the head when she says. as
quoted in q Chicago Newspaper:
II never heard during the whole time / was
at Denver the subject Of dress mentioned. The
clubWoman is not q specialist; she represents
would fnd \ great diversity OF dress in such q
great convention OF clubwomen."
The fact OF the matter Is that women all over
the country are more evenly Creased than at
any previous time In Its history. The increased