The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-06-12
CRAZY ABOUT CLOTHES

Mrs. Robert j. Burdette, of Passa-
dena, Calf. seems either by nature
or association with her husband to
have a lot OF the quaint good sense,
the expression of which made him
one of the foremost humorists of
before the women gathered in Chi
cago for the biennial convention of
the General Federation of Women's
Clubs Mrs. Burdette discussed it in
its relations to morals, while the as
semblage itself, by great majority,
exemplified the beauties OF dress
simplicity
Mrs. Burdette spoke TO an expert
and appreciative audience.
With forbidden knowledge" said
the speaker, came self-conscious-
ness, and with self-consciousness
came the sense of shame and the
protective garment-and thus did
the transgressions of our first par
ents cover all future generations
with a blanket mortgage of clothes.
which we are paying off with heavy
interest.
Whether clothes were first worn
as an ornamental covering or for
protection matters little, for we
seem even to this day to consider
the first of prime importance No
matter if the neck be exposed near
ly to the waist line and the limbs
nearly half way to the knees, if only
the style be followed, health and
suggestiveness are lost sight of in the
craze to be in fashion.
Miss Grace Hutchins, costume de-
signer of Columbia University, says
the morals of a woman are read in
her gowns and that slovenly dress
indicates her mental traits; that the
woman who is addicted to extreme
styles is sure to be an extremist in
everything else. But, she adds, she
does not believe that every woman
who wears immoral clothes is neces-
sarily immoral. She rather believes
a large per cent of them recklessly
and relentlessly follow prevailing
fashions without knowing why.
''As the fashions are today, a wom-
an would have to design nearly ev-
erything for herself if she would
not wear immoral clothes. The rea-
son is plain enough:
Fashions, especially French fash
ions, are not designed for good
women. They will not spend enough
money to suit the merchants. That
is the reason that every new fashion
is designed originally for the demi-
monde of Paris"
The speaker herself clad in unos-
tentatious white, asserted that Am
erican women are clothes-mad and
that nowhere else is seen the same
elaborate overdressiHg save among
the declasse woman abroad.
Throughout Europe" she contin-
ued, 1.-The women of high nobility
and social position are like wrens
compared with the cockatoos of the
half world. 1t is an unpleasant
thought that it is the latter who set
the standard which our fashionable
women follow with naive avidity."
The speaker gave especial empha-
sis to this statement
'NThe following of fashions dicta-
ton causes foolish women to eat
their hearts out with longings they
cannot afford to crafty; leads to
| unhappiness, the ruination of homes
and the bartering of virtue ITSELF"
Mrs. Burdette said that women
should determine for themselves
what style of dress most becomes
them and then stick to that style
Americans are too Independent, toe
individual, she admitted, to be con-
tent with a national costume.
| mo one thing today in woman's
life. more saps her strength, time
means and nervous vitality than the
triple headed lion that guards every
event of daily life in the form of the
question: What shall I wear?' How
shall it be made?' and How shall il
be paid for?'''