The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-11-13
DAUGHTERS A REAL LUXURY
No CHEAP THING TO PRESENT
ONE ~ NEW lORk sOtIETi.
Boys Are Far cheaper. and the Dsnerenec
d Marked fvsm the Time they Are .
Few Months O,d-ExtPaSaGant Gut.
ats Provided Even for small GtrlS.

Not long ago at a Fifth avenue club a
man who has a daughter about TO be
introduced TO society jokingly remarked
@ a youn ger member of the club:
\ thank my lucky stars that my other
two youngsters are boys Daughters are
too expensive a luxury
Authorities say that for the first three
gears boy or girl costa about the same.
For the mex, fifteeS. years however. the
gar between the general expenses OF the
two widens year by year till at the age OF.
say. Is il represents a sum four or Ave
times az large In favor Of The girl Occa-
sioaaily the difference is greater. as for
instance when a young woman's marriage
follows close on her formal introduction
70 society
The mother Of three daushters, discuss
Ing the evei interesting topic Of child
growth, said that from tho age OF is
months Up 10 seven years girl outgrows
&C least four outfits OF sets Of clothes and
tina; during this time the character of
her clothing changes very little. the finer
and dA.niIer materials only being used.
About 500 a year or a toea! Of A.,o6 for
the four outfits was q moderate figure.
she thought. and II handsome f,irs are
included once or twice. the total given
would have 20 be increased q good deal
Now adays there are few daughters Of the
wealthy who do not from the time they
are able to walk own at least one fur set.
sets Of coat. n,uf and fur trimmed cap.
made OF exquistely fine ermine. Of mink
seal. squirrel and other kinds OF fur. being
displayed In wonderful varieties by all
the outfitters. To pay sees for q five-year-
ODDS winter coat and muff is an every day
occur renee in one Of these shops. and TO
buy "a best and second host fur coat IL
quite usual.
Footing the clothes bill il not the only
item 20 he considered in the expense ac-
count Of girl Of Z the mother Of three
girls made plain
From the time n little girl IL Z years
old she faces the entertaining problem"
she declared and probably no change
IN the political or educa uonal status Of
woman will ever lift from feminine
shoulders the task of looking after the
pleasure schedule Of the community.
When one has small boy in the nur-
sery he is invited TO little giris' parties.
A. he grows he is still asked to the enter
tainments given by the mothers Of little
the day he IL married. His mother needs
to take very little thought about giving
parties for him.
with a little gisl in the nursery il il
Just the other way. Birthday and holiday
parties. parties to return similar favors.
luncheon and matinee parties to a limited
number of her small friends are expected
Of girl from the age Of 4 or Aarlier.
Nv oldest daughters first party marked
her third birthday. on which occasion she
entertained twenty-five youngsters OF
from 3 to years. each Of whom car
RED home souvenir. Up TO the age Of
her entertaining and toy bill was
a. much "a her clothes account There
are cases where the several parties gwen
by girls under 20 their friends in
one year have cost sew ernl thousand dol
lars because Of the elaborate programmes
provided and the nature and quantity
Of the favors showered on the guests.
These amounted In one case know OF
TO at least 80 head. As there were
fifty children nj that party naturally the
occasion cost the parents considerably
sum.
This expense goes on during the next
seven years in a somewhat increased
proportion and during these years school
bills are added TO the total. for whether
educated at home or in a school first class
teachers must he paid for.
From 10 II wears girl uses uD
FIVE outfits of clothes unless sne grows
ahnormally fast. when she might need
more. hut the subs titution OF some dresses
Of stouter fabric for those Of cobweb
hn has A m
would about cover the cost Of the five
During the next two years expenses
may Increase. Gradually from the age
Of ~ Ia 10 girl has more and more social
demands on her time and clothes unless
she u sent 10 boarding school and very
few wealthy New York girls are. Near
ing Ii. she goes to small ard early dances
her outdoor and indoor diversions require
more and more varieties Of clothing
She visits more away from horne and more
elaborate parties are expected of her.
all 50 which means an increased ward
robe. During this period find that two
complete outfits are needed ~ total
cost 81 about s.. iGH. and | place The bill
for entertainments given AZ 81. 20
Concerning the cost of girl's clothes
for the ~ 20 ~ year period there
IL a wide difference Of opinion. II de-
T.-nds largely on the girl. An outtitter'-
assistant who con"s IN personal touch
with many daughters ~ 'he wealthy has
known cases where young girls NJ that
age wcr" 80 popular. went 10 80 many
entertainment had 80 many invitations
Ia visit girl friends IN their homes. We're
So much in evidence af all outdoor sport
ing events. danced and rnatin6ed rs
SiduorIsly thar their clothes hill was enor-
NOUS. asp~ciailv in their sev ent@en'h year.
whom. although not out themselves. they
had the privilege - assisting az the coming
ONT parties ~ older girls.
The more conservative mother ~ three
da lighters appealed to on this point hest
tared then SAID.
MY oldest daughter. now married.
cost us during IN" two years preceding
her coming out not much more than al"
had from the age Of 10 to 10. or about
81 500 for the two years exclusive Of
course Of entertainments given for her
which cost less than those 81 the two
preceding years because she was. invited
out NOR. and spent part 81 on" year in
Europe
Ny youngest daughter on the other
hand who comes out this winter. will
have spent at least third more or AT least
81 .Ooo on clothes IN the last two years and
has wanted many more things than |
have allowed her 10 have. Her hill for