Evening star., 1904-03-12
APRON GIRLS OF 1904
BELONG TO THE EMANCIPATED
GUILD OF BREAD WINNERS.
They Always Manage to Look Neat
and Attractive When at
Work.

| Wrtten for The Evening Star
| All hail to the apron girl of 1904! She
| does not belong to that fraternity the mem-
| bers of which wear aprons as a badge of
servitude. Neither does she count herself
| among those who are not obliged to toll
| or spin for their living, but who wear
| dainty little aprons when they embroider or
| do fancy work, just as they wear glove
1 handkerchief-fOr looks.
| The apron girl of 1904 would not feel
| complimented to be classed with either of
| these. She is type by herself, and prides
! herself on her individuality, for she belongs
! to the emancpated guild of bread winners
whose work takes her into big downtown
| offices
| Improvsed paper cuffs black sateen
| ones to match the apron have been the
regalia of the office girl ever since she first
| became one. No wonder the gallantry of
| men waned when, day Otter day, they were
| obliged to dictate to such untidy speci-
| mems of femininity.
All this is changing under the new dis
pensation of aprons, thanks to the girl
| who originated the idea and was courage
| Gus enough to start the new fashion She,
too had worn the stereotyped black apron,
| which covered the front of her skirt, but
! failed to protect her sleeves or her waist.
More than one shirt waist was sent 70
| the laundry after wearing once, because of
soled sleeves, which were in contrast to
| it's otherwise immaculate appearance.
Made a Hit.
| One day she thought of her apron scheme,
! something that would differ from the apron
| of the waitress or nursemaid. or artist, and
| yet protect her gown and be picturesque.
! She was not quite sure whether her employ
! er would approve of her new regalia, but
| her fears wee dispelled the morning of its
| initiation, when he expressed admiration for
| the new garment. After that it was smooth
| sailing and she insists that the in the
| office have been more polite to her ever
! since.
! In days of yore the black silk apron was
! tie acme of elegance and propriety if it had
! a few rows of black velvet ribbon upon it.
| The defects of any nondescript gown could
| be covered and dignifed by such garment.
| That was under the old regime, however.
| The apron girl of 1904 believes in being we'll
| gowned for business, and she does not save
| ker best dresses for home wear. She knows
! it is to her advantage to appear smart but
/ not OverdreSSed.
| Unfortunately. desk work is hard
/ sleeves not only soiling, but wearing them
/ out quickly. For this reason the big apron
| is welcomed a protector of the pretty
| gown underneath, which will wear twice as
| long for the precaution.
For ''Dress Up"
|
worn by girl in an Office building which is
we'll kept, and therefore admits of the ex-
! travagance of wearing white 1t is of sheer
white India linen. and Is trimmed with en-
| broiderv, embroidered beading and white
wash silk ribbon The girl who wears it is
| petite so she chose the baby waist effect,
! which is most becoming to her. 1t has long
! bishop sleeves, finished in band OF the
embroidered beading, and with baby ribbon
| run through it. This she calls her dress
up apron. She also wears pale blue, pink
| and lavender dimity, or lawn aprons for
| change.
! A more practical young woman selects
| for her office aprons materials of quality
that will lend themselves to the washtub.
She knows that some materials take on a
darker color when washed, and that they
starch in a papery fashion. Her choice,
therefore, is for India linens, percales and
4 pretty print apron, commonly called
| calico. is not to be despised if we'll made
and rufled. Such a one is especially desir-
able for the typewriter girl and the girl
who copies and thereby comes in contact
! with ink A simple way to make one of
| these is to gore the front breadth, insert
ing the cores to give width at the bottom.
Instead of armholes, the apron is not sew
ed up all the way, space being left for
| them in the seam. Or 1t be made
sleeveless. if desired. navy blue one,
with white polka dot, is rufied with the
| same, and is trimmed with white finish
ing braid on the POCKET, rullleS ana DanQS
Serviceable and Pretty.
| Another dark one which is both service
able and pretty is made of a good quality
| of percaline which is as light in weight
| and resembles moire silk. 1t has length
| wise tucks in the waist to fit it to the form.
| The ties are inserted at the waist line on
each side, which brings the apron well in
| at the back The ruffies pocket and ties
are brar stitched. as are also the tucks in
front This method is improvement over
the old one of featherstitching.
| Black India silk makes soft, clinging
aprons, which are picturesque and practical.
| The girl who has time to devote to fagoting
can beautify her apron in this manner. A
charming one had deep founce on the
bottom the upper part of which was fagot-
ed. The ruffle about the neck was likewise
fagoted was the ruffle at the wrists and
on the pocket. Broad ties We're caught
/ little above the waist line in front and
brought to the back, empire style, in big
bow with long ends
Hemstitched aprons are also popular.
Materials for these can be purchased ma
chine stitched, which look very pretty and
with hens in different widths. A stout
girl, who has to avoid any extra fullness.
had one made out of hemSttched India
linen. 1t was princess style, and fitted her
beautifully showing every line of her fig
ure to advantage. The hens were used for
decorating the ruffies, sash ends and for
the pocket This apron was cut rather high
in the neck.
Ready for Callers
| Nor are typewriter girls the only ones
who wear aprons. One editor, who is
obliged to keep herself trim and ready for
callers, always wears aprons of the long
sleeved sort. Sometimes, when a card is
presented, she slips her apron off and greets
her caller in immaculate gown, which
would not look so dainty IL it We're exposed
to the dust of the building in which she is
employed. Sometimes il her apron is per-
| fectly fresh. as she means 1t always to be-
If possible, she leaves 1t on.
Her favorite apron is buff dimity, which
is voluminous and berufied affair. 1t is
trimmed with black wash beading through
which black velvet baby ribbon is run
Rosettes of the same appear on pockets,
ruffies and cuffs.
This same girl keeps one drawer of her
| desk well supplied with fresh aprons. She
calls ii her linen chest" 1t is cheaper to
have aprons laundered, she argues than