Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-19

The movement for greater simplicity in
graduation exercises especially in public
schools. is beginning to bear fruit.
Elaborate commencement gowns. flowers.
carriages and other extravagances are
now froWned on by the boards OF educa-
ton in many towns, as we'll as by facul-
ties of colleges In one graduating class
in a New York city high school each OF
the girls will wear dress made by her
self as a part of her instruction In sew
ing. More than this, the cost OF each
dress has been limited to 81 by a special
agreement of the class members. These
graduation dresses are of simple cotton
materials of various designs ard textures.
They are trimmed with little hand en-
broidery. some fine tucking and gather
ing. showing the skillful machine work
done i'm the school, or some other equally
simple decoration. The success of these
dollar commencement gowns will doubtless
have very strong influence on the future
commencement in this school.
In Philadelphia girls have been en-
couraged for several years to make their
own commencement dresses, although no
limit of cost ever has been set. At one
of the class day exercises this year, each
girl wore a pretty lingerie dress made by
herself. In Chicago one girls graduating
mencement frocks to s. each.
The board OF education in Washington
has been especially interested in securing
simplicity In connection with all condi-
| tions attending the public school com
| mencements. The graduating girls will
each have two simple frocks, most of
| them made by themselves. For sradua
ton the dresses will be of some thin
white material. simply made. For the
| class day reception the girls will have
POl0rS
| and inexpensive design. No flowers will
be permitted.
measures are the preparations for COM
! mencement In the
| Six Elaborate high schools of
Gowns Required. 81 e o ~ sas S', one
small county seat in central state has
high school with a graduating class
of less than fifty, but for these young
people the commencement is treated as
| brilliant social function. No less than
six elaborate gowns are required by
girl in this class to enable her satisfac-
torily to meet her commencement obliga-
tons. The graduation dress. a creation
of white silk or satin and costly lace. is
quite elaborate enough for a wedding
gown, except that it lacks a train. Last
year even that adjunct was furnished
one of the graduates to add to her dignity
as she read her final essay. For class,
day each of these girls requires an elab
crate reception gown. and to wear to
the church for the baccalaureate sermon
| a handsome suit. The senior dance
calls for a special frock, as do also
both the sorority reception and the class
luncheon. To accompany all these dresses
must be suitable supply Of gloves slip
! pers. hats and lingerie, SO that each of
these girl graduates receives a trousseau
sufficient for a bride. Elaborate clothes
| call for extra expenses in the way Of
| carriage hire and flowers.
Many families represented among these
graduates are severely taxed by the COM
mencement expenses Of a daughter in the
public schools. where her education has
been practically free. The fact that in
many cities 1t has been noticed that some
Of the best students In the class drop
out in the senior year because they can
not afford to graduate is responsible for
the crusade in favor of commence ment
simplicity, which this year is stronger
than ever before.
| Where commencement exercises are
held in the daytime instead Of at night
there Is usually
Daytime Exercises less tendency to
| r-.;n extravaganza. For
0ees A~FS that reason a large
number of cities which formerly gradu-
ated their public school classes at night
this year are holding their commence
ments In the day. with much simpler ac-
compartments.
Simplicity in commencement clothes is
not however. being confined to the pub
lie schools. One OF the largest and most
exclusive of girls finishing schools in
the vicinity of New York this year is
sued orders that the graduates may have
but one new dress for commencement
! This one is to be simple lingerie frock,
which could be worn for graduation and
also for the other commencement festivi-
| ties. Most of the students of this school
! are millionaires daughters. who have no
reason to consider expense. The men,
bers of the faculty issued this rule be-
cause they have decided that an elab-
crate wardrobe distracted the minds OF
the girls from their studies just at
critical time. and II will be rigidly en-
forced On account Of the high standing