The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-14
For the fomen.

than the people in equal circumstances
VINO i've IN those cities. As for THEN
clothes, they are entirely CONNIE il faut
Most of them have their best gowns
made in Topeka or Kansas City or ST
LOUIS or Chicago, and they are always
faultlessly gotten up"
Il don't think that speaks very well
for them. if it is true, spoke up a cluD
woman whose fad is civic loyalty.
But [ think you SANDER them. don't
/ believe the best Kansas women do ga
out Of their state to buy their Clothes
or even out of their own towns to any
great extent. They 60 away and get the
/ ideas and take them home to their coun.
/ try dressmakers, so that their home
towns may reap the benefits of theih
travel and opportunities. / have lived
and visited in a good many small coun-
/ try towns and I have observed the eVo-
luton of the country dressma ker, as Well
I as of her customer. Some Of the ablest
members of the mOdiste's profession are
I buried as one might say, in little coun
/ try towns. They do good, conscientious
work, and they have up-tO-date ideas,
I too. for. if they don't get to the city very
/ often themselves they always have from
two to a half dozen customers who do,
and who return to give them the BEN
eft Of the new ideas in gown BUILDING
And the result is that the civilizing
/ cause Of artistic and correct gOwnina
] is spread about through the jungles"
! It's not only the cause of good dress.
! ing that is advanced by the more for
! tunate country wOnan's travels put IN
/ another woman She brings back ct her
+ things beside the latest fads and fancies
/ of fashion. She tells her neigh bors
about the new books and the new plays
and the new music, imparts the hints
/ she has received At the dinners and
! luncheOnS and afternoons she has at
4 tended while away, and let's her trips
/ broaden their lives as well as her own
I The result is that among the best peo-
! PIE In the country towns YOU will find
q clever ENnhiGffa1fpd rnnGiGh a <
thoroughly up-to-date in every respect
! as their city cousins
And what you say about the countrs
mOdlste reminds me-" volunteered an
other of the company. that when I was
visiting in FL Dorado I was struck by
the number Of pretty and fashionab bly,
goWned girls j met They appeared adj
vantageousIy at all times. but especially
so at dances and evening affairs. One
night I said to my hostess How does
it happen that all your FL Dorado girls
wear such charming evening fr0cks?
think I never saw so many pretty.
dainty dancing gowns in any company
before Well she replied, we have
gown builder here whom we consider a
wonder for a country town. Her spe-
cialty is pretty frocks, and I have never
seen them duplicated anywhere for
style, originality and good taste. She
IS an art&ste born, although only q
country dressmaISer as far as pTepara-
ton for her work and experience go, but
in any city by her evening and summer
gowns. Everyone who visits here pra ises
her work. and we are all very proud C
It,. You would be astOnished, too. at
her prices. It was something ridiculous
Why, she made an elaborate gown, all
tucklng and frilIs and insertion and fag-
getting, for four or five dollars. 1t was
enough to give the poor victim Of the
city dressmaker's charges a siclzly
qualm
A claim for a fresh new laurel wreatE
has been made by the president Of the
American Dressma lzers' Protective asso-
citation. Miss Elizabeth White Of New
York who has, after much study and
4 research, invented a windy day skirt
one warranted TO stay down properly
about the eeet while the wearer turns
{ the most exposed corner on the breeziest
I day in March. It is Iily-shaped and
much like any ordinary skirt excent
that it is faced on the under side with
a band Of haircloth about seven inches
wide which holds it down It is the
anchor to windward. so to speak.
This discovery puts one in mind of the
man who worked u years and spent
I several thousand dollars finding a way
to preserve WatermelOns the year round
only to learn that the demand for wa
termelons passes with the good old
summer time" and that this luscious
fruit so palatable in August win never
rival the plum pudding as the piece de
resistance of the Christmas dessert. At
least 1t is quite contrary to commonly
accepted opinions to believe that a wom-