The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-23
r.
.Nh.

appeal to their fancy at the moment
Very few OF them, however. stop to In
qiire, Is 1T suitable?' l fear that En-
glishwomen are greater offenders In this
regard than are my own countrywomen.
They are less apt to be so correct in
Getail as your well-Giressed American,
but mistake made by women of both
nations, l think, nowadays is in allow
ing young girls, especially at evening eti-
tertainments, to wear tho same dark
colors, rich materials and heavy orliit-
ments as do the married women OF their
circle. Surely, the charm of a yotue sira
is her dantiness. her sweetness and her
youth. When she wears heavy blac.-
velvet and trailing satins. and elaborats
creations in applique lace. like her own
mother. how can she expect to retain this
most potent charm of her personality?
Again, | come back to my text word,
suitability!
of course, to be really perfectly dress
ed, as tho world understands. requires
oceans of money. There is no more ex-
pensive pastinie in the world than that
of being absolutely well dressed. There
is no reason to prevent a woman of u
very moderate income from being suit
ably dressed, and II she has taste j
certain degree of humor, AID u greee
deal OF intelligence, she need make r,
mistake y costume should never Over
power the individuality of the perso,a
who wears it. To my mind, in dressing:
you should treat yourself as picture.
An artist frames Il picture so as to en-
nance its beauties and not detract from
its workmanship. Therefore. in select
ing gown, you do not want to have ono
that is conspicuous in itself that it
will absolutely be remarked as a sepa-
rate entity. When a woman is admired
she should be admired for herself, ard
not for what she may have on
'What a splendid dress, Who's wear
ing it, is not u complimentary criticism
upon a woman. But, 'Whot is that
man wearing q charming dress" is quite
another thing. 1t is not given to all wo-
men to be beautiful, LTt there are very
few women whose appearance may not
he harmonious. People laugh at women
for thinking great deal about dress. but
it displays little intelligence on the part
of such critics to make such remark
as a token OF disapprovai. You can dis
play quite as much intelligence abous
your clothes as you can about your bust
ness. and there is no need for both
necessary items i'll the worlds life To
entirely absorb your thought your
time The sphere OF woman and tins
scope OF her endeavors IS greater now
than it has ever been before in the worlds
history. tut heaven forbid that. in the
hurry and scurry of her busy eXlstenc.-
she should lose sight of the fact that shn
as a sex must be mental. or. at least
blend pleasantly with her surrouudinssl
do not mean here that because she hap
pens to sit at a table as clerk stl7 S OF; /
suggest the hard outlines and unyiAldinGs
expression OF q table; but she might &c
least wear what is suitable TO her posi-
ton and harmonious with what should
be her feminine nature.
Few people regard clothes from an
educatio STANDPOINT hut they certainly
should be so regarded. They should
Influence the happiness of the Tome. tho
graces of society and the stern atmes-
phere of business. Life. i'll TACT. wouli
be a good deal better for many 7enpin
If there were ta;eer lie I5ed, untidy
yor1e1, in its midst The best enlarge
ment of my own worti-te1- that can
give is TO dress well is 70 dr's7 suitably
to dress suitably is 10 dress we'll