New-York tribune., 1910-05-22
FrfITs Versus Learning
Movement to Eliminate Feminine Erlvoi1t'eS
from Commencement Ceremonies

gowns, some of which have alreauy peeH
long time ordered. will he worn
yet even on this dressiest day OF an
,i5os = senior there will be note of
simplicity new TO the wellesley VI lae
ve2rs-fewer elaborate gowns, less laNlsh
flowers and spreads Wellesley Is IN earn
est about reform Already. in the last year.
student expenditure has been VoInnlaIiiy
reduced Instead of sending floral offer-
inps 10 other student favorlteS LOT paih
swallow entertainments. fnter-class leceP
tions and similar functions, we nave given
the money to the students bnldlng Iuiiu'
We have bought even our shirtWalsts seIi-
ously with the object not only of supply
ing ourselves with needed garments out
of belpfng the striking shirtwaist makers.
The slrnptuary regulations which thelr
sister colleges have been making came as
-,,v,,r-ise TO the undergraduates Of Bar
nard. on Morningside Heights the tradl-
+iona1lv correct costume for commencement
* a white linen shirtwaist and skirt un-
der the academic gown, but once in Whlle'
of course. some feminine soul, craving for
fhe fluff and frills of her sex, adds touch
that is not considered either scholastic or
dignified. At the bacCalaureate service one
year several girls ventured to appear
in blouses with Dutch necks or with
broad lace collars spread out over their
black gowns. The next day they received
notice from the committee on public cere-
monies requesting them to put aside all
laces and feminine touches. There was a
lnurmur Of protest, but the collars and the
fluffy maline bows disappeared. This year
the seniors. prof1ting by the experience Of
their predecessors. ordained standing col
lars or plain linen ones before authori-
ties had chance TO lay down the law.
Most of the students in the colleges where
the gown is worn are rejoicing that they
have it, because il helps 10 solve the prob
lem Of the graduation frock.
Every year. however. arises the ques-
ticn of cap and gown versus ''fussy clothes
at the faculty reception, and every year,
after long discussion and a secret conclave
with some feminine member of the profes-
sional staff, there is general rejoicing when
the verdict caps and gowns is handed
down.
In public schools and various other in
stitutions of learning the expense Of gradu-
alton has been as serious a problem as in
the colleges and has led to the same re-
suit, namely, q widespread revolt against
these conditions. Public schools in and
around Boston are all seething with the
question, and Spartan simplicity is threat
ened at the June graduations. In Wash
ington the Board of Education has come
out for plain clothes. and although some
of the misses are protesting the rule ap-
pears TO have met with favor among we'll
to-do parents. and in some Of the schools
| the pupils have Of their own volition voted
not to have flowers.
Public School of this city has been un-
/ affected by the wave of reform, for the
! reason that no reform was required there.
! No gloves. no flowers and no carriages have
/ been permitted at commencement since
Miss Katherine D. Blake became principal
/ Of the girls department.
/ ITO allow an unlimited display of ex-
pensive gowns and costly floral tributes at
/ commencement, Miss Blake said to a
/ Tribune reporter, is, aside from the bad
taste of it. provocative of untold mental
suffering to girls who are not in a position
/ to exclude them whenever 1 was in a posi-
! thOn to do so dates back to my own gradu-
alton. when all but one poor girl was
showered with flowers. She was so heart
/ broken over it that I never forgot the i'm
! preston il made upon me. When gradu-
ated as a teacher a similar experience con-
/ frmed me in my determination to put the
ban on such display. I most heartily ap-
prove OF the Radcliffe rules, and I hope
that other colleges will follow"