El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-05-19
Graduation Gowns Now a Live Issue
and Sentiment Grows For Simplicity
In New York the Girls Make Their Own Dresses for 81, But in
Many Places Expens1veness Is Sought.

public schools come from homes where
dress suits are not considered abso-
lutely necessary TO the happiness OF
life. Strict conventiOnaity also pro-
hibits asschooI boy from dressing IN
the fashion of a mature man, SO the
Tuxedo is frequently called into play
for his purpose. Many a boy does not
desire to own evening clothes and OBJ
jects to wearing hired ones, is embar-
assed when the majority of his class
adopts them. For this reason, the
day time commencement when only
sack coats are permissible, is especially
popular with the boy graduates. In
a number of cities, high school boys
are organized into military companies
and have uniforms. When this is the
case, most of them prefer TO wear their
uniforms. AS the seniors are generally
officers, n possess dress uniforms,
they are in this way spared any diff
Guilty about cl3thes, for their uniforms
are a mark of distinction they are only
too proud to wear.
Under any circumstances, boys have
less trouble over their clothes than
girls. That they have a sufficient
vanity to study the effect Of their ap-
pearance at this critical moment OF
their lives was recently demonstrated
by a Pennsylvania boys high school
t1o9~- @NC0 aA0 49,
for the class %colors, so, on commence
ment day, p young men marched upon
the stage wearing black suits and pat
ent leather pumps accompanied by
neckties and hosiery of a brilliant
scarlet. As they seated themselves
upon the stage, each graduate care
fully adjusted his trousers in such a
way as TO give the audience the benefit
of his red hose. The applause indf-
90 ted fbo< The hor- Rod made a hif
The faculty Of the school had been in
formed that the class would wear plain
black suits. The Introduction Of a
scarlet. note at the last minute could
not be prevented.
Expensive at Best.
Under the best possible conditions,
the commencement exercises of the
public high schoo1 are an expense which
cannot but be a tax upon many par
ents. There are engraved invitations
to be issued, frequently a theater or
opera house must be rented. besides
many other incidentals which differ
in every locality. If some Of the stu
dents in the class receive handsome
floral offerings, it is hard for those
who do not, and the same is true Of
commencement presents. Although
man people feel that an invitation
to a commencement, like a wedding,
calls for a gift in acknowledgment.
the ostentattous display of presents. If
sent to the graduates at the exercises.
has caused more than one school this
ear to put the word Presents are
not desired" upon their invitation
cards.
Many schools have prohibited flowers
being sent. Sometimes the school au-
thorities make these regulations, but
more often it IS done by the graduates
themselves, who are being educated TO
consider good taste in these matters.
One class issued a notice to its friends,
that those who wished TO send flowers
were requested to send nothing more
expensive than a 25 cent bunch Of
sweet peas. This led TO a demand for
Weet peas, which the local florists
were glad to fill, and, as there were
no members in the class whose friends
could not afford to spend so small a
sum as a quarter upon them. the sweet
pea commencement was voted a great
success.
Tomorrow-Women and Whist.