Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1911-05-16
Fine Clothes a Poor Substitute
for Character.
PROBLEM FOR THE WORKER
Gay Finery Does Not Make Nor Retain
Respect-Jane Adams Career a
Worthy Exampse-Her Char
acter and Worth Make
Her Prominent

Working girls, like their richer sis
ters, have their likes and dislikes,
and. like their richer sisters, often lay
stress upon things which are not of so
much value to them as other things
might be. They Judge more by the
show of things than by the realities.
1t Is a case Of the glitter which passes
FOR gold. When well-dressed women
come into the stores the girls behind
the counter envy them and not infre-
quently say, Fine feathers make fine
birds" They often wish they might be
SO situated as to have nothing to do
In life but buy fine clothes and spend
their time at social functions and
clubs. There is such a glamor about
the society woman in the young girls
eyes that her yearning for fnery is
so great she will often spend every
cent she earns and even get into debt
TO bedeck herself, and too often she
presents the appearance of a cheap
Imitation.
she ponders over the thought, Why
is it that she must toll and suffer de-
mails while others no better than she
have an easy life? There are certain
ly inequalities IN life. Circumstances
often change, however, and there are
compensations for every condition in
life when one learns properly to read
the meaning of it, Most people do
not read the parable, as is evidenced
by the Difference shown the we'll
dressed woman in contrast with the
Indifference and contempt frequently
evfnced toward the toiler.
1t is this preference which makes
the worker long for the life of ease,
the good clothes. the society life. She
feels If she, like her rich sister, but
had the money she too might shine
and be of the so-called elect.
AS matter of fact 1T does not need
line clothes nor the show of wealth
for one to reach the highest pinnacle
Of society, 1t needs only a good
strong character, but the good must
be OF the highest quality. Some will
say, Sunday school talk" but let
them answer this question: Are there
any women in the best society who
stand higher than Jane Adams?
Every society woman in the whole
United States, from the presidents
wife down, would feel honored by her
presence.
And happy indeed will be those that
die the hour that Jane Adams dies,
for the angels will throw the gates so
wide. to welcome home their sister,
that many soul unworthy will enter
into Joy in the glory of her coming.
There are other women who have
made place for themselves which is
looked up to by people in every walk
of life, and their names will live long
after those of the society women of
ages have been forgotten. These
women never lead in style, nor do
they feel that they have to have every
passing fashion. Through their char
acter and worth they Impress them
selves upon the people and society
welcomes them with open arms. They
believe that they have no right to lux
uries while others are in want of ne
cessities. They are the workers, these
women. who toll that others may
shorten their hours OF toll, who agi-
tate for better working conditions for
workers, who strive that knowledge
may be spread
The worker can better afford to en-
ulate the example of those who stand
highest in the realm of work. Every
one can exert an influence for good in
his community If he lives right life
in accordance with his means and cir
cumstances. if he sets value upon the
things worth while One should dress
the best one can afford 1t Is a girls
duty. and her desire as well, to look
as well as possible. It is equally her
duty to give her mind to other matters
ban dress.