The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-25
FOR FEMININE READERS
DOMESTIC CONVERSATION on THE
SUBJECT OF "BABY RIBBON
Fashionable Gowns Made from Khaki
CIOth-Exercise and the Complex
iona Pretty Bedroom
The following is a part of an interesting

The following is part of an interesting
talk reported by the New York Sun:
Men are so woefully ignorant on the
subject of clothes and Materials" said Mrs.
Dobley that 1 should think all the large
universities would have classes at which
the students might learn enough to know
the difference between embroidery and
lace. That is point upon which no man
but dry goods clerk can give an opinion"
1T would seem odd TO have a fellow car
~ off the honors in passamenterie and take
a prize for an essay on chiffon, wouldn't
it?' asked Dobley. You see, we don't
have to go in for any Of those things. We
don't require those gaudy Italian sunset
effects
Il fancy you haven't been looking in the
Broadway shop windows" said Mrs. Dob
ley. I've seen the gayest sort of things
neckties and bath robes and pyjamas and
handkerchiefs, even, that fairly dazzled
met
Those are like the colored bottles in the
chemists windows" said Dobley. mo one
ever really wears them"
Il should think they would be lovely in
>.
fully.
you never think whether you look pref
ty or not when you are going down a fire
escape" said Mr.. Dobley. You don't
even care whether your hat is on straight,
you are so bent on getting to the earth
When l was a girl" said Mrs. Dobley,
II used to keep a negligee gown run
through with yards and yards of baby rib
bon all ready to put in hurry in case
OF fire. Then had pair of white Turkish
slippers with gold embroidery. l used to
fancy myself being carried down a ladder
by brave fireman and think of the effect
this gown would produce on the crowd and
the other girls
'The other girls?" asked Dobley. mysti-
fed.
Yes; it was at school, and / knew that
they'd all have old bathrobes and crocheted
bedroom slippers because they hadn't been
so thoughtful"
You intended to be the belle of the fire."
said Dobley
Yes. Well, the funniest thing happened
when fire really occurred in the school
1t was only a little fire, but you can i'm
agine the excitement in a girls school?
L had been out for a bicycle spin with an
other girl after supper and she invited
me up TO her room for some crackers and
jelly and tea, which was our favorite
nightcap. / had torn my skirt and l took
1t of TO mend 1t. sitting carelessly in a
white sweater and bicycle boomers and
plaid golf stockings. Then we ate the feast
ana prepared TO put our hair in papers
before We parted. l had just completed
mine and was preparing to go. when the
big gong in the corridor rang and we knew
that meant only one thing-ire"
The girls came running through the
hall yelling fire, and the girl / was with
nd
lifer
I'VE both flew and when the excitement
oil Gained down and the girls who had
tainted were brought to and those who had
mysteries were Quoted and we all had
stopped yelling and crying the professor
compiimented us on our remarkable pres
ence OF mind. Then l realized that my
golden opportunity had come and gone
The other girls did have on their bath
robes and slippers, but was the only one
in curl papers. a sweater, bloomers and
plaid stockings. 1t was a dreadful mo-
ment"
What become of the original fire robe?"
asked Dobley..
well, was so discouraged used to put
Ii on evenings when the other girls had
gene to their rooms and 1 went around
to all the doors and asked them If they
had heard strange noise; that 1 couldn't
sleep. Then / acted as though I always
dressed like that in my~oom.'
Whicn was conscious fraud" said
said Dobley. 81 have always held that the
wearing of baby ribbon indicated degen-
eracy. 1t is fraud in it's very name. 1t
is never worn by babies, nor was 1t ever
intended for babiesi"
You don't understand" said Mrs. Dob
ley. 1T isn't called baby ribbon on that
account. 1t Is because IL is the smallest rib
bon that is made"
well. If it doesn't Indicate actual de-
generacy 1t is Indicative of mental weak
ness" said Dobley How can woman
claim that her brain weighs as much as a
| mans when she will spend three hours
putting ninety-seven yards of blue lunacy
| through five rows of lattice work and then
| tying II in little bows When see you en-
| gagged in that pastime, Mrs. Dobley, 1 ex-
| perience the same poignant regret that you
| might experience were you to observe me
standing on a street corner counting my
| fingers and taking to myself"
You take the wrong point of view, Mr.
| DoDley, said that gentleman's wife. "In
your studies regarding clothes you didn't
| get as lar as baby RIBBON. You should take
| a postgraduate course. The use of baby
| ribbon is Indicative of the most admirable
| feminine qualities, combined with extreme
artistic perception. 1t is also the one bright
ray or hope that your sex can cherish as
| an argument against the theory of the final
| extinction of man. Woman is progressing
| to such an extent that she is sweeping you
on your pedestals. In the arts, the sciences,
in politics.
| "Hear-hearv shouted Mr.. Dobley.
| we are advancing steadily and we hold
| In the hollow of our hand the power to
| conquer. But baby ribbon is the slender
chain that will bind ashland and brain
while We remain addicted to it. We can
| never rise above it," said Mrs. Dobley i'm
pressive!y 1T is going to stretch into the
| future thousands of miles, enchanting the
| daughters OF future generations, as 1t does
the daughters of the present. Baby ribbon
| Mr.. DoDley, is chapter that you must add
to your philosophy of clothes! Which re-
| minds me that 1 must again call to your
| attention the fact that / am to order a
| tailor gown to-dayr
What have I got to do with it?" said
4 Dobley, appalled, by his wife's eloquence
| Il am sure / can't see where l am con.
| cerned in the matteri'
You ought to know by this time" said
! Mrs. Dobley, a smile causing dimples to
| appear at the corners of her mouth, THAT
IL is impossible TO obtain a gown without a
\ good-sized check!"
The Question OF the Complexion.
DR.. Grace p. Murray, In Harper's Bazar