The age-herald., 1901-11-17
What to Spend on Clothes.

The articles in the papers recently re- latlve to the amount of money necessary for woman to spend upon clothes dur ing year has elicited no small amount of discussion among the fair sex in this city. During a change of seasons and especially upon the approach of the win ter season with all7its accompanying fes- tivities, an absorbing topic to the femi- nine mind Is always the wherewithal shall we be cothed;' and so wherever you find little groups of women now the topic is sure to be the three hundred dollar year. proposition.
 A few years ago no doubt there were any number of women who would have responded very quickly as to their abili ty to dress well upon the given sum for year. For, in the old days, the fair women of Birmingham were more than content with one best gown a year and an evening dress possibly every second or third year. During that time Birmingham women were too busy to give much thought or time to the ques- tion of dress.
 Now things have changed, and any so- cial assemblage in the city is marked by the beauty and elaborateness of the gowns worn by the women.
 Birmingham las lost every vestige of
 
 thought that at present oftenest frrrows the brow of the fair member of the smart set is how to make the most of her personal allowance. For with each succeeding season there are greater de- mands upon her purse.
 At a gathering the past week of sev eral of the most popular members of the social set this interesting problem came up and quite a. breezy little debate followed. One strikingly handsome young natfon,, whom we all knov1as one of the very best gowned womenEon. the South Highlands, said with an air of provoking assurance Well if 1 had three hundred dollars a year to put in clothes alone l never would be troubled like Flora Me F'limsey with nothing to wear. There was ripple of amusement at this, for the young matron is not only always well dressed, but seems to possess a spe- cial gowE for each occasion.
 You may laugh if you l,ke,f she con tinued, "and of course 1 do have a great many gowns and they cost good deal of money. but at the game time l econo- T0ize, r."
 You make them yourself,' brcke in her fair neighbor, who spends lavishly upon her wardrobe and never looks well dre essed. 'y5
 For otherwise the thing is inipossible; three hundred dollars would, hardly pay for the gowns one needs. to say nothing \ of the wraps thd hats and numberless little a aecessories necessary to the we'll dressed woman" No" responded the young matron, 1T do not, Tor I have two much common sense to try and make my own dresses and Eets. know enough to let the woman who has the lxnack of it do my work. But, oh do economize. I watch the shops closer than any stockbroker watches the mar ket. For I know something of 1resses and hats even if I don't make them, and when there is a bargain I swoop down upon 1t; and at the end of the season when the shops mark down their goods I revel in bargains. But I'll let you into the secret if I tell you all about how l scheme and manage in the purchase Of my years wardrobe"
 Knowing her marvellous success in re- suits half dozen charming little wo- men are now plunged deep in thought having made up their minds to emulate the young matron in an eternal search for rare bargains.