The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-03
For the .
% Women.


She leaned over the belt and pocket
book counter of a Kansas avenue shop
and peered down at the array of shop
ping bags displayed within. 1--WE been
looking for a bag for a year." she
said plaintively, land carrying this old
thing Just because I can't find any
thing 1 want. If I do fancy style
when it is first introduced everyone
beats me to it and before have made
up my mind to take it it's SO common
don't want it. Will you tell me why
we don't wear big pockets like our
suits silk or wool or whatever they
may be, hung from our belts by cords
or leather straps or straps of the Same
material? Isn't it ridiculous the way
we go around carrying pocket books
and things in our hands? OF course
the big bags that are carried now are
some improvement over the practice
of a few years ago of carrying moth
ing larger than purse but why should
we be burdened with anything of the
sort? Why not have a pocket and
enjoy the comfort that goes with it?
What would we think of men if they
suddenly discarded pockets as women
did some years ago and went about
carrying their money, cigarette cases,
handkerchiefS and match safes in their
hands or in a big bag dangling from
their wrists 2'' -
The girls point was well made, but
if she feels the need of a pocket so
tremendously, why doesn't she start
the fashion? She is certainly in a
position to do so and an old-fashioned
reticule hanging from ones belt would
surely be pretty and sensible fad
and quite in keeping with present day
TogueS- Don't you remember those
cunning reticules that Mrs. Fiske wore
in Becky Sharp" suspended from the
belts of her dear little high wasted
90 n a
Peggy from Paris bags in shape, but
they were made of the material of
the gown with which they were worn
and once no toilet as complete with |
out one. They could be silver, gold or
copper mounted if one liked or could
have leather trimmings and fixingS
and hang by straps, chains, ribbons |
or cords. Sound good? Why not?
Will somebody please start the Lucy |
LOcket'' fad?
And while we are on this subject, |
is 1T any wonder that women age more |
quickly than men, that they are more |
frequent victims of nervous prostra- |
ton and similar disorders, when you |
consider the needless and senseless !
diSconforts they undergo in the name |
of fashion? Now, why, as the girl |
quoted above demanded, should a |
woman allow herself to be deprived |
of the comfort and convenience of a |
pocket by an arbitrary law of the |
gownbuilders? Did you ever think of |
the wear and tear on the nervous sys-
tenn caused by this one small deficiency |
in a woman's costume? For years
we were not permitted to carry any
thing larger than a money purse and |
this meant that every woman must |
clutch at least two articles firmly every |
minute she was outside the house
her handkerchief and her pocketbook |
ESQ called because there were no pock-
cts to hold iO. In addition she usually
had an umbrella or parasol, her dress
skirt and from two to five small pack
ages beside. All this except the dress
skirt and the umbrella now go into
a big leather bag but then there is
the bag on ones mind. Don't say it |
is no bother. You know you are al
ways leaving it in the street cars or
shops or at home on your dresser
when you want it: Now, confess,
isn't half your time and energy de-
voted to keeping track of your shop
ping bag?
PROFESSIONALLY the crying need of
the hour is a Moses for the woman's
pocket movement.
The E-s were on their way home in
their auto when she walled she must
go back; that she had left her sun
shade He slowed down the machine a
little and advised her to let him take
her home and himself return for the
parasol. She looked dubious as head
ded: Are you sure you left it at the
Mortons? You know we stopped at the
Yes. I am sure" she declared testify,
land 1 think you'd better take me
back
Nonsense; you won't have time to
dress for dinner. Describe the thing to
me. If I know what it's like I'll get
it all right.
But, Fred" said she. lifting appeal
ing eyes, how can 1 tell you what it
is like; 1 only got it at the Seltons. I
know I'd recognize it, though. Do hur-
ry; that's a darling, and take me back,
DR. the horrid thing it belongs to may
get there frst."-Clare Belle in the Gin
cinnati Enquirer.
There are persistent rumorS of the re-
vival of the Directoire modes but so Ear
hey are nothing but rumors. The 1880
styles are too generally becoming and
TOO we'll liked to be abandoned so soon
Tor a more conventional fashion. All
The new models retain the distinctive
features of the 1880 modes and there are
few marked changes from the fashions
Of spring and summer. The sleeves to
be sure have assumed a pronounced
shape and are large at the top rather