The Washington herald., 1907-09-03
FROM WOMAN'S
POINT OF VIE w

How the style Of dressing has changed!
Women used TO wear dressing sacks and
wash dresses In the morning. and house
dresses were as important as street gowns,
and saved good deal Of wear and tear
on them Nowadays the regulation morn
ing dress is a shirt waist and skirt, with
stiff collar or fancy stock and a tie,
and the same costume does service for
house wear when a woman chooses to re-
move her street garb.
The effect is neat enough, and that IS
saying a good deal, but I miss the fem
ininity Of negliges and quaint teagowns
I acknowledge the debt we women owe
the very convenient shirt waist and sepa-
rate skirt, but I regret its substitution for
other and daintier apparel. There never
was anything prettier than the simple
wash dresses Of this season. and by wear
ing warm umderclothing they can be made
to do duty for house dresses through the
winter, and allow one to look sweet and
fresh This IS better than saving the
frocks for another season, because Of the
inevitable changes In fashion.
am not a believer in an elaborate
wardrobe unless there is a maid TO look
after it. The work of keeping m Iltitude
OF garments in the pink of condition is
wearing and not worth the time a busy
woman would have to put in upon them
Just enough to look perfectly dressed is
all one really needs, and that will keep
the ordinary woman busy. I wonder il
any of you have an inclination like mine
TO fight. I inherit a streak OF thrift that
does me no good In these days Of
abundance. am given 10 buying in
quantity and having more articles on
hand than I like 10 take care Of
I have reformed some by continued ef-
fort and the memory of a woman who
was given 10 saying you could buy any
thing, at any time, II you had the money.
Il is quite true, and when she died she
left few belongings. but a tidy little bank
account, which pleased and surprised her
relatives. so much money goes into
things. she was wont to say, Just things
that answer no definite purpose" She
was a spinster with many homes-the
homes OF relatives and friends, who were
glad 70 have her remain with them-and
she could not have many possessions at
one time. But she was always well
dressed on few clothes-an art few wom-
en- have mastered.
When l talk about making a few gar
ments go a long way involuntarily think
Of a very handsome woman with a tiny
income that gave her a home in private
family and allowed her 10 dress beauti-
fully, apparently. I happened to know
how she managed. or I might have Won
dered how so little money could give such
good results She wore black 20 a large
extent, bought good materials, employed
reliable dTessmakeT, and took exquisite
care Of everything she owned. When a
new frock lost its freshness II was put 10
common use and a fresh garment took its
place. She had no useless articles. but
lacked nothing that good dressing re-
quired.
I had an unbOunded admiration for her
self-denial. for she was pretty iE face
and figure and there are so many tempt
ing accessories to the toilet. There is g
deal OF money wasted on jewelry. for in
stance, when it might be spent TO advan-
tage in necessary clothes. To buy gew-
gaws and economic on a dressmaker is
bad policy, that has a marked influence
on the personal appearance Of any wom-
an. I saw a good example OF that in the
person Of a young woman on the seat In
front of me in a trolley car. Her cloth
ing was Of good material, but the bodice
yawned in the back and the stock was
impossible. On her arms were many ban
giles, about her neck an elaborate neck
lace. and on her fingers an assortment Of
rings that invited study. She was in easy
financial circumstances-her appearance
showed it-but what a result
BETTY RRADEEN.