The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-28

tremist who think of nothing but clothes and who allows them to doml- nate her to the exclusion of everything else"
 Did you ever notice?" asked Peggy Automatically steering the conversation from the serious depths into which it was drifting, how woman's moods change with her gowns? She is alike chameleon"
 Maybe that's the point I am trying to bring out that a woman's clothes are her real conscience said Miss Caro- lline
 There's a widow in her weeds" sug- gested Peggy. Doesn't she look the part of the grief-stricken woman, yet change her into bright festive colors and her whole attitude land expression lights up. I went to a fancy dress ball once in brocades and patches and un- sconciously I assumed a minuet attitude towards life. I couldn't help it. It was the fault of the dress; it dominated ma completely
 "I have a friend who has a Mandarin coat" continued Peggy. that came from Hong Kong, and she declares that every time she puts it on she feels like a Chi nese lantern, all lighted up."
 Clothes are queer,' reflected Miss Caroline, and since time immemorisl they have been identified largely with womans destiny Clothes, some say are the natural weapons of woman, and very few of us every get away from the In, Sharp on down to Lily Bart, clothes have been the pitfall on which writers have based some of their best stories.'
 Poor Flora Me Flimsey," sighed Peg gy, didn't you feel sorry for her when she had nothing to wear?'
 I've often heard about the silken gown concealing the starved heart" Miss Caroline suggested
 That's all stuff and nonsense,' sad Peggy, about the truly contrite heart clothing itself in sack cloth and ashes It's much easier to be a stained glass window angel in violets and hop-sack- ing than to be lifted upwards in poor, ill-fitting frock and an unbecoming hat.
 Perhaps you are right" reflected Miss Caroline.
 q know I am,' declared Peggy. "I adore the fpperies of life; dressed up in my Sunday best I'd never think of con- fessing my weakness a jeweled hair rib bona rhine stone buckle. willow plume can make me perfectly charming, while an old slipper and a befrazzled wrap per can make me confess to all my short comngs.'
 
 friends against everything she tells when she is dressed up, said Miss Caroline. "She declares she is not re- sponsibe and is not honest with herself or anybody else. For instance she has a black spanged gown"
 "Who would trust woman in a black spangled gown" protested Peg gy. "rhe wearers of them are always ladies one reads about who run away with other womens husbands-or if 1t hasn't got that far, they leave notes pinned to the pillow, saying that home is too narrow sphere for their acti- vties and they will henceforth be identified with suffrage" asked Peggy.
 "Sometimes.' said Miss Caroline, they go on and lecture on that subject on cooking school ethics or they go on the stage. Still others, open bonnet shops or sell antiques"
 All of which proyes,'' suggested Peg gy.
 Just what l said in the beginning of this little chat" Miss Caroline averred That if 8 srangled gown can make woman do dny of these remarkable things. she would be very careful in the selection of her wardrobe and see that sine doesn't get gown that is reprehensible enough to break up a home
 50 after all Miss Caroline, you be- ieve with me that in case a woman does these things, she is not respon- sibe-but it's her clothes,' said Peggy
 "Sometimes-they influence her-yes, said Miss Caroline grudgingly and smiled Sphnix-lke smile.
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