Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-12
JUNE IL, 1910.
cHILDREN's CLOTHES


a constant demand for increased space
for expansion must be met. The ma
terial used and the style of making
employed needs to be of character to
favor activity, exercise and growth.
Charlotte Perkins Gilman very aptly
says, "From the baby to the boy in
trousers and the girl in long dresses
we interfere with natural growth ana
physical happiness: first by the direct
mechanical restriction of garments and
then by the effect of the materials of
which they are made; the constant
care to keep whole and clean fabrics
which no more belong on a child than
lace petticoats on a colt.
ut is sufficiently difficult for a child
to learn the complicated activities of
the human body without our deliber-
ately hampering every movement by
ill judged clothing"
A very slight but persistent constric-
ton may occasion serious injury to the
soft, yielding mass of tissue which
forms the body of the young being.
Lung expansion is a fair gauge of vital
capacity, and it follows that the wear
ing of any garment which interferes,
even though but little, with a full and
complete movement of the diaphragm
and chest walls, limits by that much
the vital capacity of the individual.
Compression around the abdomen
during the growing period through the
use OF bands or clothing too tight is
apt to interfere more or less with the
normal functions of the stomach and
bowels, occasioning weakness of these
organs and sometimes rupture.
The wearing of the diaper too snug
ly about the hips while the bone sub
stance is still largely cartilaginous is
followed by more or less injurious ef-
fects.
A stocking too short or too narrow
.ts to- ts.
often the occasion of much misery in
later life Tight stockings are capable
of doing as much harm as tight shoes.
Mothers should exercise much care in
the matter of foot covering for their
children. A comfortable fit, neither
too large nor too small, should be pro-
vided. 1t is well to chalk the child's
foot, press it against a damp slate
and secure thus an impression which
can be carefully measured before max
ing selection of either hose or shoes.
If one must practice economy it is bet
ter to keep on hand but a few pairs
of hose and to make frequent new
purchases to keep pace with the needs
of growth. Stockings shrink with
washing, so that while the little feet
are increasing the hose are diminish
ing in size Besides being uncomfort-
able tight stockings often cause the
toes to round out the middle one being
with the result that later in life when
this position has become fixed the
middle toe is always rubbing against
the top of the shoe. causing corns or
it may be the little toe having no room
of it's own is forced under or over the
next one, resulting in more or less de-
formity.
The clothing suited to the require
ments of an infant needs within a few
months to be replaced with short gar
ments better adapted to the physical
development of the healthy, vigorous
young being. There is no reason. save
custom why the child should not wear
short garments after the first month,
providing the feet and legs are prop
,erly protected.
The short clothes should equally pro-
tect every portion of the little body
and nowhere construct it.
Soft, rib-woven shirts are the best
foundation garments for the baby.
Later an elastic union suit is better.
Long stockings covering the entire
limbs are far better than the short
ones exposing the little legs.
The knitted waists are better, as
they are elastic and thus accommodate
the growing form. The little drawers
and stocking supporters are fastened
to this waist.
The petticoats should be cut plenty
large and hang from the shoulder.
The princess is perhaps the best
The fashion of dressing little children
of both sexes with rompers in lieu or
petticoats and dresses is greatly 10
be commended.
IF dresses are deemed Indispensable