New-York tribune., 1908-03-22

floor The dressmakers called 1t the cleverest node
OF the season.
Charpioning the movement for simplicity ana
art in dress. Mrs. Eve Brodlique Summers "ii'
is a leader in the Chicago Womans Ciuo' saiu
that the confirmed shopper was an unoeVeioPe'
woman who is unable to discriminate because sii7
Iack. breadth and culture" She was severe o"
Chicago who patronize the theatre sFS'"e
1t was all for the sake OF dress
1T is not unusual to hear this remark. saia
Mrs Summers "'No. I'm not going to near so
and-So In her new plays: she wears the same oio
dress IN all three acts; Let's hear So-and-So
two changes In the second act. and Fhe ioVeiies'
hats you ever saw
AS she spoke, Mrs. Summers was snnar'iy so"i7
in delft blue and had a dainty pair OF Drown
shoes with high heels and fluffy picture nat
In the university courses in dress ana shoppais
tho ethical side Is to made prominent MISS
Mary Mcdowell a well known Settlement WoI
emphasized this phase of the new crusaoe.
I'VE should see the ghosts back of the ciothes'
she said "the millions OF girls who toll IN the
factories, and who have relieved modern "ol'ie"
of the heavy part Of the task OF haoiI''atHe ''e
family and the home. Don't worry because that
.s a sentimental attitude. We must not stop being
sentimental but don't want to stop AT sentiment
II would not hurt politics II sentiment intruded
In fact sentiment in politics would elevate pohcs
a little. To my mind. the best dressed woman IS
she who understands where and how her clothes
were made.
hat is trimmed with cruelty or whose gown Is
sewn by the nervous fingers of dying slave IN
sveatshop. The catering to women is tremendous
worlds industry The prices are heavy; let us see
that those who dc the work fairly paid
Mrs. Charles Henrotin is convinced Of the neces-
sity for school IN shopping. So also are
Mrs Peoubet Norton, of the University of Chicago: !:
Dr. Julia Holmes Smith. Mrs. George l. woodward.
Mrs Edgar A Hail. Mrs. William 1. Thomas. whose
husband is professor Of sociology in the University
Of Chicago and many others Mrs Henrorin ad-
nnits that she and most of her co-workers in club
dom are too old probably TO benefit by the re-
form, but the rising generation of girls can hs
helped She depIores the lavish display OF articles
in the great departnent stores ever present
field of temptation to working girls and the ldie
women who live in boarding houses and hotels
what we need said Mrs. Norton. rs campaign
f educa,ion 70 teach Us how when and what TO buy
There should be high school course in textiles
and the various articles of dress for women The
course should include instruction in the amount or
money that may be spent wisely for clotnins no"
to select and buy materials, the bad elements III
the passion for shopping particularly the element ~
waste"
Here Mrs Hall attacked prevaen custom intro
d1ced a few years ago in the department stores OF
Chicago the system of credit or monthly accounts
"Tt is wrong TO run charge accounts. said Mrs
Hall 'I have known wives to deceive their nus
bands by having Iuxuries placed on the bill as ne
cessitfes have known wives who have been
tempted into buying unnecessary things because
thew were cunnngIy displayed and they could have
them charged. Some might buy sealskln sacqua
and have it charged sheeting.
The kevnote of the whole reform plan was sound
ed by DR.. John Holmes Smith. and Mrs. Warren
Smith remarked that mourning garb was useful
onIy to prevent the annoyance Of foolish questions
Mrs. Warren said:
Those who dress the sensbly are the ones
who study their own lines and colors, consult the
prevailing fashions and choose moderate style