New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-22

r,e KEYNOTE in the discussion over the
.,o,;ve merits OF American and French
s,sblon is individuality. II is all very
rsu 10 talk OF the ability of the Ameri-
.,r woman TO design clothes for herself
and her countrywomen, but have her
.ourtrvwomen the individuality to wear
,bem9 Are they ready to ask the ques-
ion. What is becoming? What suits
nv type or personality rather than
what is fashionable this season.?
There are a few clever women who
realize that the woman who always looks
veil gowned is the woman who under
stands how 10 clothe herself as an IN
dyldual apart from every other person
regardless of the dictates of fashion Ana
these are the women who are teachlhs
their children to study themselves in the
same way.
The aim of every fastidious mother Is
10 dress her child simply and in pecohi-
ing manner Her clothes shoulu &c
part of her and not obtrude theihse''V
Some mothers think that II the emu
takes too much interest In her clo'ne'
sbc will become self-conscious. vi the
o,bcr hand. the child who knows that she
Is sppropriately dressed, as a rule, tor-
.,,s entirely about herself and her frock
and II becomes as much part OF her as
her hair
The growing mind OF the child is very
seositivc to impressions. and If she learns
Early i'm life the cardinal principles oil
,ood dr,ssmaking IL will be as easy and
- natural for her to apply them as she
,rovs up as any Of the other les
com of life. If the American woman IS
70 become an individualist in the matter
If dressing herself she must grow up
4, that belief. just as the French child
draws i'm with every breath an idea OF
STYLE which never deserts her. 1t Is this
innate and instructive knowledge of that
iodefnable something that is called style
that makes the French nation the fore
most designers Of fashion in the world
I'll is in the very atmosphere declared
well known couturier II am an Eng
usbman. and / have lived in America and
n Paris. but | can design only in Paris.
can find no inspiration here in Amer
Ca. although here are the most beautiful
,omen in the world"
sENsITIVENESS TO COLOR.
Some children are very sensitive TO
color. They take strong prejudice to
certain colors 4 red gown on very
nigh strung girl has been known to bring
m degree OF excitement which fire.
/ ouently resulted in tantrums While
/ frock OF another more pleasing color
would instantly soothe and quiet her TINS
Is Of course an extreme case, but there
are more children than mothers realize
Who suffer cruelty from being compelled
| IN wear clothes which in color and style
/ are distasteful 10 them. Instead OF try
ng 10 force the child TO wear these
clothes as a matter of training, the stu
alton should be studied and the reason
found for the chld's objection. Try TO
jeyelop the child's tastes in clothes and
,hus plant the seeds of individuality.
CHILD MUST BE CONSIDERED.
It takes. as a rule, such little time
and so short an explanation 70 get the
.hid's point of view that II II a pity
mapy mothers 90 ahead and order thelr
ehndrens clothes without a thought oil
the individuality OF the Wearer. For
children are so set in their ideas that
they will not listen 10 reason ana VIII
not be guided by their mother 2 Judgment
L hut It is necessary for them TO feel that
the mother is a competent guide. In these
laws. when the whole system Of teaching
d the schools is TO bring out the indl-
rdlallty OF the child. it is not surprising
that the gil. even before she enters heI
teens. may feel competent To question just
how much mother does know about the
right clothes for her Ii is necessary toE
The mother Of to-day 10 study the clothes
4 problem as IL presents itself for her
child She will find that it is not the
least of the problems which confront
her, nor can il be solved ofthand al
minutes notice. The day when one dress
could be passed down the line from one
youRgster TO another is over; the manu-
facturer as much as any one FASTENED lts
departure. for few Of the present day
fabrics VIII withstand more than sea-
IONS wear and tear.
II the mother is 10 guide ner chHlu az
the selection of becoming and appio-
Pirate clothing. she will teach her 10
study herself The designers of children
clothing are quite ready to help the per-
picked mother by offering her gowns ana
coats and hats OF many styles, almost as
Varied as those for older folk. Tine
mother who selects successfully the Co.'S
times most appropriate for her daush-
Ter VII cast aside her own preferences
sne may delight in the fascinating RATE
sfeenaway gowns and coats, but uniesS
her glrl is Of a certain picturesque
pquaRt childish type she Will be wiser
70 pass them BY The illustration shows
one Of these bewitcning little frocks In
Sft null, and nothing could be loveher
Vhexpresses the personality OF the chilo'
THE AWKWARD CHILD.
The robust. tall. awkward child VINO
II Nonises 10 be fine looking woman put