The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-09-18
Cost Of Coming.

Mention has been made heretofore
of the statement Of a New York mo-
diste that to be in the social swim
a woman must expeGd $4,000 year
ly on dress alone. Then followed the
information that some women in the
metropolis lavished for the purpose
twice this sum.
Interest is revived by a demurrer
from Chicago, where It is said So
ciety woman may get along on the
moiety of $4,000 for the raiment Of
ten in that center of culture desig-
mated glad rags
The palpable truth is that both es-
Inmates are preposterous. Doubtless
some women do spend $4,000 on
dresses, and even more, but they be-
long to a small class, and that in
constituting society" they constitute
anything in which to take pride would
be a thought occurring only to them
selves and their trained adherents, to-
gether with a vulgar element, that,
grown suddenly RICH, desires to place
itself on exhibition. Doubtless this
gilded set. so far as it has influence,
has an evil influence. 1t eXcites a
foolish envy that leads to imitation.
1t is not an object lesson in good man
ners. AS to its morals, charity mod
estly refrains from detail It's amuse-
ments are of a character that would
cause persons devoid of pull to land
in the police station with the plebeian
charge of drunk and disOrderly" af-
/ ter their names on the record.
1t is but just to remark that some
/ Of the extremely wealthy women are
cultivated, sweet and gracious; that
they have a right to devote any num-
Der of thousands to dress. But these
are not the women who laugh at
their comrades wading in ball cos
/ tune through a fountain, or taking
! the part of fellow-guests with mon
key. Indeed, we're they to be pro-
/ jected into such environment they
would be affronted and disguised,
and quickly indorse the common YER
dict that the monkey was the mental
superior of his associates.
Thus it is clear that a distinction
has to be made. There is society
that holds aloof from the immedi-
ate surroundings, not from any feel
ing of arrogance, but because of Z
degree OF riches that makes some
line of demarlatiOn inevitable These
people have amusements that cannot
be afforded by the person lacking al
extraordinary income. They have
tastes that the poorer have not &C
CURED, and which to satisfy would
mean ruin to the well-to-do. Theil
segregation is neither strange nor OBJ
jectionable. They are refined, Otter
public-spirited, devoted to home life
and attentive to the demands Of phil
anthropy.
There is another set that idIeness
has degraded to a condition Of spec
tacular vice. II is this set that has
adopted the notion that it is the only
Society entitled TO the large S. The
notion generally is tolerated. The
men and women are Of too little i'm
portance to merit much serious at.
tentiOn. Yet they can hardly expect
to have their modiste spreading the
= theory that SIS, 1000 a year is the pric,
OF admission to society, for this i'm
plies that there Is no society say,
that adorned by them and their sim
ian intimates.
In the list Of articles a girl mus
, have" are six afternoon gowns a
from $3.50 to $500; six opera and din
ner gowns at an average Of $500; i'm
ported lingeries TO the cost Of $500
and three hats at 800 each. Thes,
are sample items, the whole totaIint
S9,175.
The modiste must have suffered il
her mental equipment.
In every city in the land there ar
young women who have the entire {,
best homes, are always at the fines
and most exclusive gatherings, ant
who never in their lives had a dres
costing $500, or hat costing 500, o
owned a scrap Of imported lingerie
There are women who are expected
and welcomed at private and diplo
matte functions at the Capital who's
entire dress bill would not in a yea
[ reach $500.
E Since the subject excites common
it is well TO comment from the basi
Of cOmmOn-sense, and not be misle
/ by the fol-de-rol of the dressmake
who speaks only for a class eager {
g be plucked. and anxious TO have tn
:. operation performed under the lime
= light.
Everybody Mad.