The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1905-12-08
FASHION AND HEALTH.


and health walking arm and arm. They
are usually having war of wold ds;
fashion deriding the warnings of health
and health declaring aloud the menac
ing follies Of fashion.
But this season we have the novel
and happy spectacle of fashion that is
quite the rage on two continents, vet
supremely healthful and comfortable
the short skirt.
The American girl, with all her
60; d sense and insistence upon sarto
rial comfort ought to have been the
originator of this wise and wholesome
style, but in point of fact the craze for
short skirts this season started in Paris
last summer, when French women de-
clded that they would make the smart
new princess dresses short-quite
short, with a jaunty frou -frouy tilt at
the back, not suggesting a rainy day
so much dancing and coquetry.
When long ago the American girl
first inaugurated the short skirt, she
did so in an outbreak of genuine wis
dom. Her logic was in universe ratio
to the length of her skirts. If her lit.
tie feet appeared in public for the first
time in many years it was, she assur-
ed you, to take step in the right
direction.
There was no pretense of coquetry.
The short skirt was worn with stout
boys boots ahd usually with stout rib
bed stockings. In shose days the
short skirt was for comfort only.
But fancy French woman's mind
working on such simplelincs. There
is always wheel within a wheel in
the F rench brain-a sensible thing is
done for a flippant reason or gay
thing to confuse And so the reason
able short skirt is made to reveal un-
reasonable high heels and stockings
that are but filmy gauze.
1t is to be hoped that in welcom-
ing the idea of the short skirt, that
the American girl will refuse the
foolish foot garb that will make a
French girl this winter dress her
feet for the Boulevard as though for a
dance.
There is an excellent idea of
economy, too, from the short skirt fad
To begin with, it protects skir: to
keep it wholly off the ground; but
there are always in the wardrobe long
skirts quite good except for the wear
and tear about the hem, and these can
this season be converted into fashion
able walking length, with very little
just time.
The best length is one and halt
inches from the ground in front and
two in the back. An even skirt is
not fashionable, there must be slight
tilt at the back. Having cut the
skirt by measure mend and put in per-
feet order, then stretch over the iron
ing board and sponge completely. If
the skirt is anything but black use
clear borax water. Half cup of pure
borax dissolved in a basin of water.
Rub with a piece of the same cloth
to avoid lint or discoloration.
To clean a black skirt add to the
borax water half cup of solution of
soap bark. This will restore the
black and prevent any sheen in the
pressing. The pressing is a most i'm
n"rtant ratter. it most be done slowly
auu Thoroughly, but can be easily man
aged at home.
Place your skirts on a wide covered
forming board and have handy two hot
irons rather heavy in weight. Now
cover the portions to be pressed with
a wet piece of unbleaceed muslin fold
ed double and when pressing don't
move iron too quickly over it, but
press until the material stops steam
ing. Should there remain full OF
glazed spots, sponge lightly and press
again. This re-pressing when damp
will form steam that will remove such
spots.
The pressing must be kept up un.
til the skirt is quite dry. After the
pressing put on fresh braid and your
street skirt is quite as good as new.
If skirt is to be entirely done
over, the cleaning also can be more
efectual, as you can dip each breadth
in the borax water, and press
dry, leaving it like absolutely new
goods.
Belle-Did you tell Arthur you
would leave him out of the
will if he married that girl?