Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-23
seful
Hints
Why We Quarreled
Husband Who Tries to Regulate
Wife's Wardrobe Defeated.
tBy virEin,n rcrhuuc Van dc wutcr.)

remarkable TO see how we'll my wife
dressed on IL She is def with her
tingers. and She fashioned many OF her
own clothes.
Then. suddenly made good sum
of money. and my father died and left
me still more. This enabled us 10 alter
our mode OF life, and SO into a more
for ! like society.
But / had no idea that the change
in our fortunes was going to make
such change in my wifc's apparel
j understood, %. course, that tho ma
terial Of her costumes might NOW hc
handsomer than OF old, but it beats
me to understand why she need have
several gowns TO take the place OF
every one that She used to have. And
nowadays She makes over nothing.
why should L. she argues. Il
can't sew nearly as well as the pro
they need the very work tina, ! usen
to do myself"
lie Cnnr Understand.
That's very true" ! agreed and
1 am no; obiectiMg to your giving
work to trained drcssmukcrs or needy
sewing women. But why have so
many gowns for one season.
Because" she replied. Il go to
moro functions than l once did"
But" insisted, even then YOU do
not wear out an evening gown in
one season. Ii may get soiled. but
YOU can have il cleaned. AS YOU do
not dance It certainly does not become
worn or shabby"
You seem to forget" Elizabeth said,
"that 1t makes a woman uncomfortable
TO wear the same costume in the same
crowd again and again
Then she sighed in sheer despair OF
making me understand
That was last fall. had never seen
her moro cngrossed in anything than
che was In shopping and drcssmaliinc
all through. tho late autumn and early
winter | determined to Keep count
OF her new clothes. One day when she
was out I came home carly and went
through her closet. ] knew which were
the evening gowns. for they hung in
light bags. Each bag had attached to
It smaller one which held the slip
pers to match the gown.
Must Dress Handsomely.
l counted five evening dresses. three
suits, three afternoon dresses and three
fluffy things that looked like wrap
pers-only more elaborate. think
they were what my wife calls negl!Rees
There were also several wraps. he.
sides her long fur coat made a list
OF them all and handed II TO my wife
when she came In.
Well, VIVA, of IT," she demanded, as
looked my dsapproval. we go out
gowns aplcnty. AS to the afternoon
gowns, ! wear them to teas in my own
home and elsewhere. Then tho suits
I need for church. calling or shopping
could not wear n plain serge suit
tn call in, could /? ell YOU" che
when woman is young she may
look all right in plain things. hut
when she Is nearing middle life She
must dress handsomely or be per
feet trump"
"Fd risk It," muttered.'
What did YOU say" she asked
repeated my remark, addinC-pcr-
haps brutnlly-that l would rather
have my wife resemble n sober. little.
domestic bird than 4 vain ana strutiine
peacock.
knew my words made Elizabeth
very angry, and she looked at me
strangely for q full minute before she
spoke wondered what she was think
Ing.
Indignant and Hitter.
Do YOU mean that she asked a;
last
II do" returned savaEely. IL would
rather have YOU as plain as a nun
than putting all my money into pea
cock-like Gaud!ness"
This was not true-for l have enough
money and 10 sparc-but Was indil,-
nant and bitter. An hour later had
forgotten the remark My wifc had
not
Two nights latcr Elizabeth ana +,
went to fashionable reception given
by the wife OF a wealthy business asso-
ctate OF mine. In the automobile my
wires fur coat hid her gown com.
pietely.
coulS not repress n start of amaze.
ment @hen. as waited for her al,
the head OF the stairs outside of the
mems dressing room. she appeared In =
plainly made black silk one that had
been secondhest afternoon gown
last year. The sleeves came 10 the 81
bows, and she wore long black gloves.
The waist was omen n little at tho
throat and this space was filed with
white lace
"Eiizabeth" ] exclaimed. actually
shocked why. In the name of heaven.
have you worn tina, dress for such a
, function AS this You know | always
want you TO look your best in this
house"
She Score, Victory.
She smiled inscrutably. You told
me you would rather sec me dressed
like nun than like a peacock" she
reminded me. 80, as all my evening
gowns are rather gorgeous. i had 10
wear this to meet your views"
was almost beside myself with
rage. Other couples, passing us IN the
hall. loked AZ my wife In surprise
II
cry whisper
VERY we'll" she agreed. calmly.
We went home, ana whom wc were
once In our own hoUse turned on her
authoritattvely
Now go and dress suitably" ! or.
dered. Then We VIII 70 back to ,hat
reception"
oh no, we won't" She said. YOU
may go II YOU lisc--uut worm 20
alone. am not going u ohey another
OF your whms. dressed tonight %
please you. but shall no, repeat tho
process just because YOU haye changed
your mind mean 20 dress 10 sui,
myself-since can not suit you"
That was all. From that time IN
this / have never interteret IN wh.,
Is presumably my wife's own peculiar
province.
And when her friends declare in ne,
= presence and mine that she &c N. hos.
gowned woman in our set ] do no,
glance In her direction lest see n
CLEAN OF malicious triumph IN her
eyes,