The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-05-21
GRADUATION RROCK
TOPIC OF THE HOUR
Simple White Dress Is Most APP
prspriate for Girls.


by FRANCES SHAFFER-
Year by year the chain grows longer
and more effective, the chain OF cities
whose school boards ha%e detsrmined
that simplicity must be the dominant
factor in the graduation gown.
The principle back OF the regulation ID
particularly Wholesome and fitting n ttz
application to high schools, where there
are pretty sharp contrasts in degrees Of
station ana wealth and where those who
can choose simplicity or display, as they
like, can well AFFORD 70 meet on the
level OF the others TO whom strict eco
nomy is necessity every day m the
year.
But-dO you sust IKE the cap and
gown idea?
To some Of US it IS something Of a
surprise TO learn that already il has
taken root in many places. and IL has
decided advantages; yet. one fancies
that II put 10 a vote among the girls
themselves or their mothers, the simple
white dress would continue 10 hold It's
own
And for several reasons.
Useful All Summer.
In the FIRST place, back OF simplicity
stands the real necessity for economy.
and the pretty white dress. sweet as
may be but inexpensive as must be, is
useful and practical the summer long.
And in our high SCHOOLS there are
many giris and their mothers who know
that the graduation gown, whatever II
cost must do duty for many day. And
even a dollar gown" impossible and
uuthinl1sble as II seems to some. Is the
very best to others, because IL must be
But the cap and gown. worn on the
day OF graduation. are folded away
probably never used again
one fancies that nothing ever will
happen to make girls Indifferent to the
'ibecomingness'' of hats, gowns and
other useful and useless items of ap-
parel Some faces and figures look
mighty sweet and appealing in the SOM
Der cap and govn-but not all And on
graduation day it would not be nor
mai girl who did not want TO look her
very best
school boards may not reckon long
wen that agpect OF the question when
they are trying to solve the simpnclty
problem, but It is a side the graduates
VIII take to heart earnestly enough
May Be Made Effective.
There is one more count in favor Of
the simple white dress
1T inspires in girls an ambition TO
create their own art, for IT Is nothing
but art that makes an inexpensive gown
really effective.
And that is the only kind OF striving
tbst seems TO At in with the traditions
and the principles of a high school-the
striving to reach the goal OF good work.
whatever It may chance TO be-
There are some who believe II unWlse
IN make any regulations in the matter
Of limiting the cost Of gown for gradu-
alton day.
They say the better way is. early and
late. TO impress upon the minds OF the
girls that on the last day when records
are all in. the matter of dress is the
least important OF all; that then the su-
preme question is not what shall We
wear. but what do we know2 II is easy
enough to outshine when 1t is all ques-
ton of money, but not so simple when
the goal is pure achievement.
Boards of education would accomplish
something quite worth while II they could
succeed in impressing upon the minds
OF. young folk about to graduate that the
most royal standards Of all are those
that center about genuine courtliness OF
the mind and the heart. For the gradu-
alton gown, which may cost precious
bit of worry and of striving, to the
breaking point, is forgotten tomorrow,
while the standards Of worth go on to
the end of life.
simplicity Can Be Taught.
But human nature is so very strange,
so subservient to accepted standards,
that it is hard for a few to abide by the
simple and the inexpensive, unless II
chances to be the few who can AFFORD
to set any pace they like. And If school
boards want to see the awful evidence
of striving eliminated, without coercion,
one believes it will have to come by way
of serious efforts. Big-minded, big-heart-
ed men and women at the helm as teach
ers can accomplish much, IL granted the
right Of way, but the dollar tag counts
so heavily in our standards Of living
that teachers can do no more than i'm
press the impressionable.
There is always a goodly fringe made
up of those who care more for -ostenta-
tious display than for the most beauti- |
full code of human standards, and as
they are the ones who set the pace for
others to follow, nothing counts but the |
vigorous Thou shalt not"
And that Is why boards are not leav-
ing 10 moral suasion the inculcation of |
the fine doctrine of simplicity. and that |
other doctrine of democracy, which sets |
with peculiar grace in all institutions of |
learning fostered by our government.
But the very incest thing OF all is for |
the Initiative to come from the girls |
themselves.
A saucer Of baked beans can be heated