Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-23
SIMPLE HOUSE GOWNS
What Stands for Comfort and
Fashion, Too.
NO MORE APRONS SEEN
THEREFORE, CHILDREN MUST
HAVE MORE DRESSES.
Foreign Styles Are Followed Because
Of Absolute Sim
plicity.


Written for The Evening Star by Harriet Hawley.
Dorothy has to have twice as many
| dresses, since she will longer wear
aprons" said a mother recently. She
| still condescends to have some for school
use, but if 1 propose her wearing one at
| home am met by floods of tears or by
| such pathetic remonstrances that 1 have
not the heart to insist
The same state of affairs is vouched for
| by the dealers in children's clothes. I'VE
| do not sell one-tenth the number of aprons
| that we formerly did. But their lack often
plays havoc with dresses. so that we make
up the loss by our Increased sales of the
latter"
One artistic mother managed to keep the
despised aprons in favor by having them
made of delicate Powered muslins, with rib
bon shoulder knots to match; but this sub
terfuge VIII appease few of the young aris-
tocrats Aprons will be used by only the
very little tots; their older sisters have for
the present won emancipation.
The question of the increased number of
winter dresses required by the apronless
girl would be most trying one If the early
fall rules for simplicity in childish dress
did not still hold good. The ready-to- wear
counters can supply all but the most elab-
crate frocks. 1t may be asserted that there
is little individuality about the ready-to-
wear garments. but sensible mothers will
not cavil at that They are coming around
to the European point of view.
"a child should never be made conspic-
uous by her Clothes, says a French
mother. Fine feathers make a child self
conscioIs-time enough for them after she
is we'll along in her teens and making her
debut in society. 1 dress my girls exactly
alike. and they are all the better for it"
Which Was SheP
The same fashion obtains in England. A
certain great man recently looked perplex-
edly at stately young woman who had
just made her bow to royalty. "Oh. yes. L
remember the Dean children. They all
| wore brown pinafores and had yellow
braids. But which one were your"
The American mother is not yet recon-
ciled to such a thorough system Of CO.
ordination but ten to one all her small
daughters have dresses with sailor collars.
The sailor collar is a feature of almost all
the child's d, esses this winter. OF course.
there are sailor collars and sailor collars,
but whether they be plain as ppestem or
| much beruffied and adorned, they all go by
the same name. And there is a certain
grace and prettiness about the very plain
est.
chic little Russian blouse suit has
something of the military flavor. The
grown-ups cannot expect to monopolize the
gilt braids and buttons. Their CLEAN is
pleasing to the childish eye, and they are
most attractive on the reds or blues, which
are the favorite colors for the small girls
winter wear. The material of the suit Is
navy blue Sicilienne- 1t has the usual sailor
collar, which, in this case. is crossed by
consecutive rows of gold braid The bands
OF red silk. ornamented with red and gold
buttons is a pretty idea for collar trim
ming. The white shield is of sicilienne en-
broidered in red. Both collar band and
cuffs are trimmed with the rows of braid.
The fullness of the suit is pleated into the
shallow yoke, which is hidden by the deep
sailor collar. Gilt and red buttons, the
same pattern. but larger size, make the
double breasted fastening. The red leather
belt adds style
In Dull Green Wool.
Another pretty dress is of dull green CASH
mere. The delicate shade brings out all
the blonde beauty of the girl of ten who
wears IT. The blouse is cut after the long
wasted French model, belted in with sash