The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-25
mhite Doman's 1uroen
What H1en in Genern1 Don't Know
About tho Eternal Feminine Would
Fill All the Libraries Andrew
Carnegie Can Build.

Shopping" said the lady physician.
leaning Back in her easy-char, sis the.
white woman's burden. 1t is the popu-
lar belief among men that good, long
day of haggling over samples and wres-
Ting with dress-makers is the sort of
thing that renders the sex I have, the
honor to represent truly happy. But,
as 1t happens, what men in general and
husbands in particular don't know about
women would fill books for all the Ii
braries Andrew Carnegie can ever build.
You may quote me as saying that
shopping is about the heaviest task fem
inine mind and muscle are called upon
to endure. 1t is the kind of RESPONSE
bility that paves the way to nervous
prostration, ana the worst of it is shop
ping grows 4 more complicated and
eXhausting duty every day.
"a half century ago if fashionable
member of society devoted two hours out
of every twelve to her dress She was
enabled to keep right up to the standard
of the mode. To-day four hours will
hardly suffice for the mere purchasing
and trying on, and for every one dress
requisite twenty years ago five are now
essential for the keeping up of appear
onces, and, While the demands in dress
have grown greater, the facilities for
securing the elaborate costuming neces-
sary are not improved. We physicians
are able to realize this because of the
curious and ominous human ailments
that are the outgrowth Of oevrtaxins the
system at shopping.
For example, there is hardly week
goes by that am not called in to look
after well-defined case of Gress-maker's
Mysteries, directly due to great mental
and muscular exhaustion over a gown
that the constituencies seanstress falls
to send hcnle in time for the date and
occasion for which it has been planned.
These attacks are Invariably aggravated
by the husband, who jokes or ieers at
the very moment when every soothing
influence is needed for the sufferer
have known distinctly serious cases of
nervous prcstra ton following too much
fitting and matching. succeeded by too
frequent disappoin TIM nts.
Ten years ago tho tailor-made splne
as we call it now for lack of a better
name, and the milliner's squint.' were
almost unknows to physicians, whereas,
at present we deal with such Affections
daily. The first results from the long
hours spent standing before a mirror III
a tailors fitting-room, caught in a brier-
patch of pins. while the proper line Of
coat or skirt is achieved.
Z There is no royal road to q glove-fit1
ting tailor suit save by posing hours at
q time without flinchins-a species of
endurance and slavery only the modern
woman has ever known, and the cOnse-
ouence OF which is hordes of eXquisitely-
gowned women, pailid Ct cheek and has
gard of eye, hur1ying here for, electric
treatment, and big business for the mas
sc, Sc AS to the milliner's squint-'
But here the reporter dropped in mod
est Enquiry that the petticoated Gaen
listened to quite gooa-naturedly
t.Now. my dear young friend,'' she
answered gently, don't crop into the
common masculine error of believing
that women dress for vanity's sake, and
suffer such 1lardships mereiy to crafty
a lust for clothes. The American woman
is the best dressed of her sex in the
world, gives to her toilets her time. her
brairs-nay, almost her very life-blood
Why? Chiefly because the American
man is the most eXactng husband in
the world as regards the splendor of
his wife's appearance. She may not be
a good ho,.sekeeper. accomplished or
even beautiful. but she must dress WELL
Her fine gowns appeal to his sense Of
beauty. signify to the world his sener-s
osity and business cleverness, and, fur
prove the prosperity of the country.
women shop ito make the wheels of
commerce go round, and, as soon as our
patient, long-suffering, much-endurins
American women quit shopping and
throw OFF the tyranny Of tailor, miilineF
and dress-nlaker just 50 soon will al.
Fridays be black and all Mondays blue,
and the foundations of finance crumble.'''-s
sRoSfnrs Slohe. p.