New-York tribune., 1912-03-12
Fashions Repeat
Themselves There
Will Be Economy
in Rag Bags.
By Martha MccuIIoeh Williams.

n ragbags have truly gone out Of fashion,
more's the pity, say 7. Piece drawers and
boxes are all very well, but they can never
touch the resourceful delight Of the genuine
bag stout and misshapen, bulging here for
a bundle, sagging there over emptiness. but
everywhere prophetic Of hidden treasures
Look in the ragbagr' was a sort OF
slogan in my youth All sorts and condi-
tions OF things were ambushed there
Scrap bundles, gingham. calico mer1no. de-
laine, cashmere, even silk and ribbon.
lengths of lace and lawn. sntppets of en-
broidery, some left-overs. some barely be-
gun or more than half done. Needs must
such bag be capacious. 1t hung always
at the far end Of the deep closet under the
front stairway In city the closet would
likely have been turned into den or a
dressing room. Where one had all out
doors TO build on there was no need OF
skimping space. Periodically the ragoag
came out OF the closet-at the time OF
spring sewing and when there came deep
snow In winter. No matter how VOL we
shopped, buying every manner OF needful
accessory for our dressmaking. there was
sure 10 be something left out tho ragbas
must supply. And in the SHOWS, what 80
great a resource as patchwork After an
open winter-occs sionally flowers bloomed
for LA in January-there were sure 20 be
bits enough IN the bag to piece couple OF
quilts.
The pity Of Il, patchwork has gone out or
fashion! II beats the kindergarten world
and a. half as an education for fingers ana
eyes. Nothing Is prettier than to zee small
people eagerly interested In choosing
patches, In sewing them together properly,
in matching colors harmon'ously. Big.
coarse patterns as the nine-block, can
have their component parts run together,
but that IL not true patchwork. IL de-
nauds that the pieces shall each be cut
accurately. more accurately basted over
paper form, then the folded edges whipped
together with fine, short stitches. Thus the
color sense, the finger sense and economic
instinct are jointly cultivated.
Keep a thing seven years and you'll mo
a. use for IL" Is countryside provero-
founded, as are most proverbs, upon con-
crete experience. Fashions and fabrics do
unquestionably repeat themselves-revolye
IN cycles, as II were. To-day's NODES
however scant OF skirt and short OF waist.
are outmatched by those OF little more
than q hundred years back. woman who
lived TO celebrate her diamond wedding,
having married around fifteen, told me OF
her wedding gown. 1t was made from four
yards OF the sheerest linen campric-so
sheer when completed the garment could
be drawn through her wedding ring. n
had less than two breadths In the skirt,
which came mid-leg; had a waist belted
Just beneath the armpits, and was trimmed
around the neck. the short sleeves and the
bottom OF the skirt with rose tatting. With
It went buckled high-heeled red satin Slip
pers, white clocked silk stockings. white
satin belt, fan OF ivory and watered silk,
painted In watteau scenes, and q veil OF
elbow length. One could not, OF course
duplicate such an outfit from anyoody's
ragbag-but the recrudescence OF modes is
an argument for keeping one.