The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-18

IN IN> ''''''
used down the outer arm, and the yoke
was of baby Irish lace, outlined with a
silk cord matching the color of the
blouse. The little gathered frill was of
Mechlin lace, and the knotted scarfs
were of the satin.
Miss Leta Rice. Miss Josephine Lynch,
Miss Gertrude Clevenger, Miss Mar
guerite Jetmore, Miss Helen Roehr
Miss Margaret EIIenberger, Miss Lucille
Lynch and Miss Blanche Hughes met
yesterday afternoon with Miss Leta
Rice and organized a Forty-two club.
Every other week they will have an
evening meeting and will invite their
boy friends.
The Ladies' Music club will meet with
Mrs. Frank P. MacLennan Wednesday
afternoon. The meeting has been call
ed for two o'clock in order that the
programme may be over in time for
the Moulton lecture on Job at the high
school at four o'clock.
A Topeka man who went to ST. Louis
to spend a few days has sent for his
evening clothes and his friends don't
expect to see him again all winter.
The Athenians will dance Tuesday
night of next week at Hudson's.
y x
The incoming of 1908 was marked
in New York by one incident which
the city at large and women in par
ticular viewed with widely varying
feelings, says writer in the New
New Years eve that for the first time
certain restaurants permitted women
to smoke in public.
For a long while we have been told
that, little by little, as our women
Travelled more extensively, or returned
find ways and manners of freer for
eign social life creeping into even con-
servative American circles. Wise
acres shook their heads, Puritan con-
sciences were stirred, and uttered
timely warming The uplifted finger
spoke Of disapproval.
1t is an interesting question, this
matter of the tendency toward the
breaking down of inherited traditions
and long honored conventions. Who
is ready to say that they are conven-
lions more honored in the breach than
the observance? On the whole, is it
possible to affirm definitely what attf-
tude the women who stand for COM
mon sense and high ideals. are taking
To-Day toward many new ideas i'm
One may be quite sure of her grand
mothers attitude. Like the speaker
in Holmes poem,
Whatever 1 say and whatever I do
Aunt Iabithall say that she never
did so.''
And so one is forced to conclude,
like the same perplexed girl, What a
wonder Aunt Tabitha's aunt must
have been, and her grandaunt!" IN
qualified disapproval of everything
novel was the dictum of the genera
lions gone: I'VE never did so" settled
any vexed question, and effectually
plocked the way to change in social
forms.
Impossible as it is to arrive at re-
suits that can be tabulated. after the
fashion of modern psychology charts,
II Is interesting to watch the Ameri-
can woman in any situation which in
VolFeS the breaking down of barriers.
There is more than one form in
which the reflex action Of European
civilization has shown it's influence in
new world social life. It was in Lon
don that certain novtces in English
habits bumped up against a tradition
a! custom that is slowly finding its
place on this side. There had been a
the afternoon after a visit to the Ma
tlonaI gallery. At dinner in their COM
Portable boarding house the travellers
appeared in lace waists and mohair
skirts.
Are you going out ?" quizzed tn cir
friendly landlady
es. to the theater. Will you have
James call hanson at eight?''
stalls?''
NO; first balcony. But, Why"
why, you see, you're in high-neck-
/ ed frocks, and over here Well
you'll feel queer, even in the balcony
The Americans laughed the land
lady to scorn. and went. at eight. in a
| hansom- But she was right. Even
seated inconspieuously in the bal
cony, they felt queer. The pew-open-
er, as they called the black-gowned
white-aproned "usheress" eyed them
askance, curate and his shabbiiv-
dressed. but low-necked. wife. whis-
pered Americans" audib,y. And be-
low and all about were expansas oil
necks in all degrees of plumpness AMI
Ie@nness, Look about in any Now
York theater and the deco1lete gowr
! Is now well in evidence. The fashion
is gaining ground.
A majority of the conventions i'm
posed by American women on them
selves Seem to have more point thar
NJ nv submitted to uncompiainingly
ny eontinental women.