The Washington times., 1902-06-08
AMERICAN GIRLS PLY
NEEDLE And THREAD
Gowns Worn Refute All
Opinions to the Contrary.
PROFICIENT IN ALL THINGS
Half an Hours Stroll All That Is Nee
essaEy to Convince Those Who Doubt
Washington Easily Takes Advanced
Position.

prominent modiste in one of the
large cities has declared that the Ameri-
can girl does not know how to sew. In
asmuch as the girls of this country are
so proficient in other things and so far
ahead OF the girls of other countries in
point of adaptability it seems rather
strange that anyone should accuse them
CT inefiiciency in what must seem such
simple occupation as the proper use
Of needle and thread.
There must be any number of good
seamstresses in the United States, for
nowhere in the world are the women
gcvned SO irreproachabiy as in America.
When an American girl visits any of
the foreign capitals she is conspicuous
for her exquisite taste in dress, which
has an individual stamp that cannot be
found amcng the women of ether coun-
tries. and which marks her as truly
American as if she were robed in the
Stars ard Stripes
Reason for Il All.
There is reason for all this, and
with due respect for the tailor to whom
much of the credit for the American
woman's tcilettes is due there is femi-
nine touch about many of her gowns
that is as unmistakable as the wcarer
herself. A tailor nay be trusted i'm
plicitly with 4 swagger coat a skirt to
which his iEimitable spring and curves
are its chief requisites to fashion. but
when it comes to the frills and furbe-
plete woman's toilette feminirity
rc.grs supreme
The same mod.ste complains of not
cry her. but the majority of dressmak-
ors' inability 40 secure apprentices. 1t
IS said that many girls who are com
PEELED to work prefer to accept a posi-
tion IN stuffy little office. or store.
rather jh71 be ccnfned to the sewing
Iccr OF drcssmahcr's establishment.
An cf which nay be very true. But II
is 10 proof that the American girl has
no ada7tability for needIcwork.
The girl cf tcdHy makes her owr
clothes. ard 4 half hours stroll on one
0f tho popular promenades is sufficient TO
convince one that she is a pretty good
wish to become an apprentice to dress
maker 1t docs not follow that she can
not sew.
Nothing Too Difficult.
The American girl can do anything |
that she puts her mind to- There are of |
course, exceptions. One is likely to en-
counter stupid. inefficient people all
over the world, and also to meet people |
who are better adapted to one thing |
ihan another The girl who cannot sew |
is very sure to have some other gift !
which moro than compcnsates for her
lack OF dcxterity with the needle.
The Swedes and Germans are excep- |
tionally clover at the art of dressmak- |
ing, in fact they are said TO be so far
ahead of their American sisters il this |
particular that there Is. no comparison. |
The Swcdes and Germans, however. can
not be compared to Americans in any re- |
gard. Their vast difference in tcnpera- |
ment does not permit. The energy. pro-
gressivc spirit, and go aheadness which |
is becoming even stronger characterls-
tie of the American is totally and abso- |
uteIy lacking in either of the other ma
.icnalties.
Speaking from local viewpoint and |
taking the Washington girls as an ex-
ample. the art of dressmaking. instead |
of becoming lost art. is a new dis |