The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-17
SCIENCE OF DRESS.
Its Health and Becomingness Consid-
cred from Several Points.

cred from Several Points.
New York Tribune
AT the Horace Mann School the subject
or clothing as a factor In promoting cheer
mess or the reverse is beginning to be rec
ognized as having a distinct value" said a
lecturer on domestic science at the BROOK
lyn Institute OF Arts and Sciences. ALSO
the girls in the older classes are encour-
aged 10 criticise one anotherS habil1ments,
peculiarly as 10 hue, and to say why such
a shirtwaist or ribbon is admirable, and to
trace the reason If the beauty, though felt,
Is not easily traceable to its source.
Teachers now are beginning also to see
that attractive attire has strong influence
over pupils. and that 1t aids materially In
promoting discipline in schools. particularly
In the kindergarten and the most advanced
classes. The two extremes seem peculiarly
susceptible to its effects.
1.-THE Creator did not endow woman with
physical strength; the strongest woman Is
weaker than the weakest man. But he
gave her the power to please. and by using
this women have often eclipsed the mere
brute strength Of the men whom they
history to see this. Now, dress intensifies
and magnifies this power-artistic dress,
that fs-so how important il is to under
stand fully the means of multiplying our
source of power
Certain colors are soothing, others cheer
ing and exhilarating. On bright, hot day
q delcate gray or blue is refreshing; on q
cold. shivery day bright, vivid red touch
In our vicinity is distinctly comforting
Then, in regard to the wearer's personality,
eolors must be chosen 5udicously. It is
found that to have a portion of the costume
In touch of harmony match the eyes has
always becoming effect. Some, indeed,
nave gone so far as to say that a woman
should wear only two colors, those Of her
halr and eyes. Many women, however,
nave brown hair and eyes, and these would
by this rule be doomed to great monotony.
The choice Of colors reveals traits of
character. Persons fond of red have the
animal traits predominating: those prefer
ring the violet the spiritual.
with regard to lines the eve should not
be offended in putting on trimming. Lines
following the construction of the garment
are always pleasing-that is. parallel TO the
seams or FOOT OF the skirt Any useless or
nament also is inartistic: bow. simply put
on as a bow. without any meaning, is false
art in dress. In the two opposing STYLES of
dress each has its value; the tailor made is
trim, trig and neat; the flowing loose pic
ture dress beautiful in its own way 1t is
for the wearer to use her own judgment
which is most BETTING her own distinctive
style.
Undertaking is the most important part
Of clothing to be considered with regard to
wool, silk. cotton and linen. The most val.
| liable of these hystenically is wool. for the
reason that 1t does not evaPorate moisture
| so rapidly as the others. Our frames are
| grown person on a warm day will send
| forth a quart. Now, wool Is very absorb
ent II you place four T, pieces of material
In four glasses OF water you will find that
the wool VIII become charged with water
| faster than the others. In underclothing
wool is valuable on this account. and be-
cause It dries less quickly than the others
for rapid evaporation produces a chill which
is unl1ealthful.
But not only the question Of material is
important. That of weave is also OF weight
| A loosely woven wooden garment Is more
healthful and warm than a tightly woven
| one. That is why shrunken wooden under
| clothing is valueless, and underclething OF
this material should never be ironed, but
shaken dry The little downy fibers thai
| give woolly surface and are sanitary arr
| fattened by ironing. One often sees cottor
| understanding lauded as being as warm and
| healthful as wooden. It never can be so
because of the rapid evaporation OF tn,
moisture, Silk has been especially praiset
| for retaining the electricity of the body
but, then, on the other hand, il keeps tn,
| electricity Of the air out, which neutralizet
| the effect. In reality, cotton, linen an{
silk are about equal In sanitary value fol
underclothing."