The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1908-10-02
. 90 ssss
OF INTEREST TO WOMEN

IF was inclined to be CYNICAL
said a woman recently, II should say
to girls about to marry, Don't know
too much BY that mean too much
about housekeeping and dressmaldng
and such useful things, because have
noticed for some years that the wo-
men who are able to do them, general.
ly have to. 1857
ITO make my meaning clear l am
going to give you concrete example
of the sort of thing | am referring
to. Now, am one of the women who
knows how to sew and to keep house
acceptably. Ii am left without a
| maid, l can go in the kitchen and
cook as we'll, If not better, than most
of the cooks I've ever had. Indeed
my husband says he never lives as
we'll as when I'm in the kitchen. Then
l can make my own clothes, although
l don't always do it, can make
shirtwaists and pretty evening dress
es, and find 1t is on my conscience
II my dressmaking bills are large.
I'm contrast with this, l have q
friend who cannot cook, or claims she
cannot. who does not know how to
make her own gowns, and what is the
result? When she Is without a maid
she never goes into the kitchen and
gets the meals herself; certainly not
They go to a hotel or to the nearest
boarding house and get their meals
She always says in the most helpless
way, what In the world can l do
when l haven't cook?" Then her
husband never thinks of scolding nor
Directing but goes meekly to a board
Ing house. 1t is the same thing about
her clothes; she says she never could
make them, and 1t does not seem to
occur to her she could learn. The
consequence Is that she wears the
best, and her things are from the
most expensive dressmakers.
CAS- / spent good deal of time in
the kitchen-as who does not these
days-and sew as hard as l can to
look presentable, keep asking myself
why my friend should be so exempt
from the work have to do, particular
ly as her husband is not one bit better
on than mine. and have come to the
cynical conclusion that it pays to be
helpless with men.
Il really believe that man feels
more like man when his wife is a
helpless little thing, and his sense of
protection Is developed. He likes to
think she has to have things done for
her, as l. have noticed that the wo-
man who Is capable and can do ev-
erythtng, seldom receives the adorine
love that helpless little fool inspires
"Now know my husband loves me
but he is so used to my doing things,
IN INV oh 20
keep house we'll on a little, that my
economies do not arouse any enthusi-
asm In his mind. But I'll never forget
the day: that my helpless little friend
really made shirtwaist; her husband
begged her not to tire herself, told
her she was doing too much, and
made more fuss over it than my hus-
band would ii made my entire win
ter wardrobe as frequently have.
so 1t, is not strange that l have
made up my mind that my way is a
mistake, and that hers plays the best
She seems to get everything she
wants, and her sweet, helpless little
manner is regarded by her husband
as utterly irresistible.
I'm other words, some women
glide through life having everything
without raising a finger and are ire
mendously admired, and everybody
takes it for granted that they should
do it. So If dared, would say to the
prospective bride, don't know how to
do too many things dispatch.
For one who is we'll versed in the
modern science of dress it is a fairly
easy matter to single out the fashions
that are to exercise the greatest in
fluence during the next few months,
says Mrs. Osborne, in the October De-
lineator. This autumn the issues are
clearly defined; they are the skirt, the
sleeve and the armhole.
The sheath skirt is no longer de-
batable question: is an established
fact 1t is the foundation of all gowns
that have any aspirations toward beau
ty and elegance, and even the trot-
teur skirt and the skirt of the tailor
made suit are built in accordance with
the sheath idea.