New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-15
OVERDRESsED LITTLE ONES.
Children. Lead an Adult Efe-simplicity
Banished.

simplicity" that most fashionable Of topics
held the attention OF the Mothers Club at lis fesu
lar meeting in the Tuxedo. yesterday. MISS Jenny
Hunter daughter Of President Hunter OF the Nor
MI ollege read 4 paper on this subject. in which
she held I'D TO admiration the simplicity of persons
like Martin Luther Samuel Johnson, Rosa Bonheur
Elizabeth Peabody. Froebe. Lincoln ana espe-
ciaIv the simplicity of Jesus. while condeTnning
eyaggeration, the nervous, hurried manner and e&-
trsvagance n dress
Children to-day" she said. ARE living almost
III adult life and the fault is not theirs. but their
mothers. The vanity Of tbs American mother is
Il the root Of II all Continuing, Miss Hunter said
Little girls CO not play the games that children
rlayed twenty-five years ago. They are too much
dressed. The simple frock, covered with a long
white apron. IS thing Of the past. gone with the
mud pie Gays-n fact there is mud in our cities
to-day. We live In a land OF luxury, with public
servants 70 wait upon and keep things clean;
but remember thu time when each householder
used 10 keep the cobbeetones clean IN front Of his
house right the middle Of the street. But
4 happier; have more time in these
days than il the days when We did more for our
selves.
7 should ike to make plea for simpler clothing
for children. Little boys and girls very much
oveTdressed. q rule. Let think Of comfort
first. ana fashion only when it is comfort
a few years back little girls wore skirts so long
they tripped over them in walking. had hold
ther1 up. Now. they are so short their little legs
gre not properly protected. have often seen
Children in the cars pulling their dresses down IN
e. attempt 70 cover up their knees Mothers put
white stockings their children. and then expect
them to keep them clean. when everybody knows
that kneeling even the cIeanest carpet will soil
them
And hats-hats are so large and so berufHed and
heavy that the little ones grow cross through the
nervous strain OF keeping them place.
Why, haven't you seea scores OF children Miss
Hunter broke of TO ask her audience who either
had Their hats hanging of the back Of the head
hy the elastic, holding them down by sheer force
WIN one hand? I've watched girls bobbing their
heads constantly their desire TO keep their head
gear o. right" Here the speaker went through a
scenes q contortions with her head wrinkling her
brow and twitching her mouth, in such good irli-
tatlon OF q child In its helpless struggle with an
over2oTering, topheavy hat. that the audience Of
foty CT fifty mothers instantly recognized the point
and aQplauded.
of course It makes the children nervous and
irritable continued Miss Hunter. seeing that she
had the women with her. A hat like that is
often the first step toward St. Vitus dance You
wouldn't be bothered wearing such a thing on your
head You'd say. Dear me, that hat makes me so
nervous, simply shRn't wear it any more AS
Tor me-" she on striking the personal note 10
The enjoyment OF her auditors. Il have to have nv
hats comfortable and 50 they will stay on even if
they not smart. have not time to grow ner-
vous
And then those leather lesgings we put on our
little boys, Oh. how I wish could make the
mothers ak Eve blocks IL therni A child has
really 70 learn 10 walk all over again in this stiff
srAor Leather Ieggings destroy the ease and grace
G! any childs natural movements. and neither
warm nor comfortable. The muscles are cramped
the blood sagnates the feet and legs feel cold then
ne whole body gets cold.
II Is ( great temptation 20 have our little ones
look beautiful. but It is Of far importance in
-te 20 have them De beautiful 10 have them happy
Z: "a gooc- Too much luxury IN clothing in food
= El-ts. destroys The simplicity Of young life which
= Is z cal Charm II this club would only discuss
Sl-4Greis parties gifts. amuserneuts. stories and
-,yf|ss, Il would come 10 the conclusion that
sr-.lleA are AVlnS almost adult life these VS.
- la--l IS ali Ours-We women not simple
t1Ie9-1s1-sId We lead the world
J. Aen MSS Hunter had finished, OF the mem
- could be brought before the Board of Educa-
- ana the state legislature, ard have education
lace more simple than Il is?
-, would be extremely difficult subject 10
,sElslaEe on. returned Mrs. Lille Devereux Blake
80 vas N the chair Tt IS incOnceyabIe 10 think
So Maxwell could be shaped by any outside
' me white stocking issue appealed TO Mrs Silas
@e.e5i1ch Who said: I've often seen children who
&c lot speak their pieces thinking Of their
-TIss crosses ] have often been asked TO speak in
<-.Ie; and viii confess that I never felt com
.,lsole unless knew my skirt hung right; but il
arriving 4 too far when tiny are afflicted in
ne same way
:, Everything do is on e foundation false and
tIsec9re added Mrs. Harry Hastings Think OF
- elaboration OF the average woman al a club
xeelng- Il Is marked by the greatest extraya-
= we go TO the opera we feel must dress
= We Eat in & parterre box"