The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17
"A FASHIONABLE PILGRIMAGE
Small Bridge Party for Observation-Disclosures Sent to Out of
Town Friends-A Rose Party for Attractive Birmingham
Grl-Cards Are Sent Out-Many Well Known People
Returning From Summer Trips-Notes
BY MYRTLE MILES

With the first fall openings there has
been little thought of aught else but
clothes. and the only going about this
week has been from store to store. From
the gray gloom of the streets yesterday
into the bright lights of the stores, which
are in their most festive array just now,
the good looks and the smartness OF Bir-
mingham women came as something to be
learned all over again. Everyone is rested
after the summer season and with bright
eyes and eager smiles My Lady Modish
is entering upon the serious business OF
preparing her wardrobe for the winter
with an enthusiasm that is contagious
The little brides-elect are everywhere,
and If one wants information as to where
to find the prettiest frocks. the smartest
hats or the most up-to-date footwear or
1ingeries-ask them. They are walking
price lists and catalogs, for most OF them
are systematic girls and have their trous-
seaux we'll Under way.
After leaving the shops yesterday, where
everything was alluring and lovely ana
every woman was the prospective possess
sor of a good looking hat or was just
committing some shameless extravaganza
in coat or gown, we went away to Il
quarter in the opposite side of town,
where hat shops are not. but poor people
and plenty of them abide-the slums, one
might say, where a little boy Is SICK
and where 1t appeared that nobody knew
a thing about fashionable emporiums and
new fall stock, nor cared whether
feathers or ribbons would be good" in
millinery this season. Nothing is more
wonderful In Slunland than the fact that
clothes don't matter. In the greater
world where people strive and hope, and
in the smaller hut loftier circle where
they shine and cutshine, clothes are of
great importance, aren't they? They de-
eide a thousand things. They dehne
and admit, and exclude and make
amends. And they attract thousand at
tentive eyes every moment. But you VIII
notice that as we plunge down the social
ladder they lose significance and at last
in the lowest worlds of all they mean
nothing at all. "rhey mean something
even there, for the young girl, 1t may be
said. And surely enough in their early
teens girls even Of the poorest I'm told,
do put their hair in curriers' and year
or two later 20 into a feather club. Per-
haps after all, any feminine being is SEN
sitive to appearances and to the meaning
of clothes No matter how completelyVn
outsider. they must all look into shop
windows even though what they must find
there is inaccessible.
There is really nothing more unnatural
in the world than indifference to dress,
especially when one is young; II the
young are Indifferent. it Is because they
are in despair over the whole matter and
because their natural impulses have been
checked or thwarted. But IL an oppor-
tunitv offered they would and could,
am sure. dress themselves, IL not beauti-
fully, at least with personal note that Is
not borrowed. ] have always thought
oliver Herford's description of the Cheap
woman" deporable bit OF accuracy,
especially when he tells you that last
years hat becomes this years every day
and last years second best hat is this
years rainy day hat-yea, even though IL
be made of blue tulle." 1t is that thing
about the clothes of the poorest class
that fills one with dread. They presented
Yesterday such depressing example of
ugliness-ugliness that is not needful, for
every woman was fitted to adorn herself,
and 1t is mostly shftlessness that per-
mits herself and her children the wear
ing of ungainly raiment even though 1t be
cheap and of the plainest. There is
buried talent surely beneath the ugliness
that makes the livery of the slums, and
II is never more evident to one than when