Oxford Democrat., 1902-12-30
MAKING, MeNolNe AND CLEANING
A CHAPTER ON OLD CLOTHES.

New clothing charms alike both the
careful, prudent, ingenious, penny-sav-
ing sometimes dollar-saving) woman
and the thoughtless, untidy, extravagant
woman. To the former economy is
more than mere virtue or duty-it is a
Joy to exercise her ingenuity.
To the latter, however, it is hateful
thing never willingly recognized save as
a dire affliction. And strange fact, sadly
true, the majority of such women as
these easily "catch a husband" and
drift into dowdiness, empty their hus-
bands purse until he grows bitter-yet
never appear trim and attractive.
The question of "What can do with
my old Clothes" is not allowed to press
heavily upon such frivolous natures.
One woman, who serves as a type OF this
too common class, is always shockingly
addressed and slouchy at home; but, on
the street she apes the expensive dress
land the manners) of the "swell set" she
so envies. The dress, ruinously costly
and ridiculous, sadly Inappropriate, and
all the details from veil to shoes, are
thrown out, crushed, unaired, unbrushed
until another suit takes its place. Ex.
pensive hats-for hats costing Sl2 and
upward are wickedly expensive for one
who must wed struggling, poor young
man, while she is poor and moves only
among people of scanty means-are worn
few times each season, then they are
banished.
When this young person was advised
to clean slightly soiled ribbon, velvet,
feathers, etc, andi to press or re-trim a
last years bonnet, she acofnfully shifted
40, no, it's toe much bother and fuss.
Now it is an imposition for her or any
other of similar hundreds, to marry. In
such cases marriage must be failure
due to selfish, vain extravaganza.
Your ''really truly lady does not
blush to save the laces, ribbons, buttons,
to mend hose, to remodel garments, and
TO re-trim hats. The old story of the
lady who bestowed upOna needy woman
a goodly assortment of partly worn gar
ments which had been often and nicely
mended, in reply to her poorer sister,
woman's surprised remarks concerning
this mending, "Why, do rich people
mend their clothes?" said Eyes, that is
how they became rich"
We all know that fine fortunes have
been ruined by the wasteful cooking in
home; just as truly does great waste
occur in the sewing-room.
Give conscientious, ingenious mother
of three little ones, supply of good
patterns and the extra aids of dress
forms, sewing machine, lap-board, tape,
measure, ETC., there will be evolved a
well-made, artistic, and complete ward
robe for each, with that touch of in
dividuality so desirable, at even less
than the sum expended on Miss Silly
| Vanity's personal wardrobe for the same
season. And ten chances to one hel
garments are half sewed and generally
shiftless if homemade; but Miss Sill!
| Vanity usually lust hates to sew" 81
she hires a cheap dressmaker-alas, how
very cheap some are!
1t would seem that pleasure could bt
felt in ripping off the face from an ole
gown, washing and pressing it and put
ting it aside; for the day will come wher
it will delight you as 'just the thing
needed" Even the cheapest lace has
way of coming in handily to trim some
garment for which one does not wish tt
expend money yet does wish to have it
little trimmed.
Ribbons can be utilized past all belle
by ingenious women. They can b'
cleaned in ammonia or turpentine water
and pressed-having a cloth between
them and the iron and pressed while
damp. If faded they can be dyed .
deeper shade or black. The method
par excellence, land really little known
is to clean the ribbons, as you can clear
any wooden, silk OF velvet, chenille, kid
etc, with gasoline-outdoOrs. To make
dyeing a pleasure mix oil paint from
your art tubes with gasoline, thin it, anc
dip your ribbons therein attaining in
stantly lovely, even color, which dries
very quickly. Magazine.