The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-09-28
SHIRT WAIST LUNCHEON

OnIhi WAlSl LUNCnEUN
Convention to Boom New Fash
+. ion Held In a Big Hotel.
LIVELY DISCUSSION OF DELEGATES
Clever Gathering of Men and Wom-
EN- of the New York Dramatic Stage
at the Marlborough Cheer the New
Era In Masculine Summer Attire.
A dozen or more men and women
said they would meet at a Broadway
hotel for shirt waist luncheon, says
the New York Journal. They came,
they met other envious and perspiring
people and they conquered. The status
of the shirt waist man was thereby
fixed upon sounder and more endur-
ing basis.
After pleasant welcome and
charming luncheon was seryed in the
attractive palm restaurant Of the Marl-
borough it was agreed that the shirt
waist as hot weather garment should
be universally Endorsed as very COM
Portable and necessary fashion. The
scene was interesting to many guests
who sweltered under the weight of
heavy clothing as well as to an au-
dience of strollers who passed before
the open windows. The shirt waist
man Is getting to the front fast and
those who are not yet prepared to re-
ceive him may well study results.
The gathering the other day was
very informal. The guests dropped
in at group of tables at the Marlbor-
ough and discussed not only the shirt
waist, but dozen other topics of time
ly interest. OF the women who believe
that sensible summer garment should
not be monopolized by their sex there
were Miss Christie Macdonald, Miss
Anna Laughlin, Miss Toby Claude.
Miss Adele Harrington, Miss Florence
Ashbrook and Blanche Marsden, the
playwright, and the daughter Of the
well known playwright, Fred Mars
den, and Mrs. George A. Schiller. All
were dreams of comfort and delight
In their light, cool and prettily fashions
Y ed silk waists. .i
For once m, interest attached to
their escorts, the obvious reason
that the me- were ventlMng upon
ground that had been trodden in tri-
umph by the women. Among them
were w. P. Carleton, George A. Schit-
Ter, Walter Ware, Bailey Avery, 81. 7.
MacConnell, John Jennings, Whiting
Allen and Andrew A. Mccormick. No
one disturbed these people. No one
suggested that they were not wanted.
Not hint Of unwelcome was offered.
On the contrary, a ripple of applause
among the less comfortable guests
greeted the newcomers. They nodded
their approval when success to the
shirt waist was drunk by the. party.
The men wore, thin, soft, eomfort-
able shirts, with belts and summer
trousers and tan shoes. They gazed
upon their tcrrid neighbors at sur
rounding tables and wondered how
long the pillories and stocks of fashion
would hold them down. After q rare
luncheon of summer delicacies had
been served the discussion began.
Blanche Marsden said: "Mr. Schiller,
fairly rejoice to find you looking so
cool and comfortable. Now, if you
wore the shirt waist on the stage
should have enjoyed the performance
all the more, because while your work
Is done without studied effort, know
you are uncomfortable these dreadful
~ hot evenings"
"Well, am doing the next best
thing" Mr.. Schiller said. 81 am wear
ing the shirt waist whenever find op-
portunity. Not only that but am
willing to suffer martyrdom if neces-
sary. l am going to Boston on a mid
night train. will wear the shirt waist
on the train. will wear it when
leave the train and will be seen in a
shirt waist when I sit down to break
fast at the Touraine and during my
stay in Boston. am willing to carry
this cause to the limit and bear the
banner of the SKIRT waist within the
very stronghold of the enemy"
"Quite right" said Miss Anna Laugh
lin. "There is no earthly reason why
man should not dress with as much
comfort as a woman, and, goodness
knows, the women might dress with
greater comfort. noticed from the
Casino roof garden stage the other
evening that men in shirt waists were
in the audience in numbers and were
welcomed and served with refresh.
ments without protest"
"Why shouldn't the shirt waist man
be welcome everywhere" said Blanche
Marsden. the playwright. eff man
aged hotel or theater, my first con
sideration would be the comfort of my
patrons and guests" '"1 suppose the
same foolish row was once made about
the straw hats" said Joseph G. Miron
Nothing con stop a sensible garment
like the summer shirt or shirt waist
Good sense will always prevail in
fashions as in everything else"
Tiny Toby Claude said: II don't SET
what there is to talk about. It's only