The Washington times., 1915-10-12
Mrs. Whitney, Fashion For
tune-Teller, Doesn't Need
to Usrup Field of Mans
Endeavor In Order to
Make a Success In Life.
By FLORENCE f. YODER.

" the growing Importance of
women and women's posi-
ton in the world than does the fact
that a monetary value Is now at
tached to those interests which are
distinctly feminine - housekeeping.
raising babies. and, for instance,
buying clothing. They have become
arts. and the woman who Is .
genius at any OF them can make her
fortune.
Women have achieved public promi-
nence and have come into the
millionaire class through their ex-
ploitation, not alone of the works
and professions of men. but through
doing on a big scale that which they
have been doing for hundreds of
years in the home.
Mrs. Belle Armstrong Whitney is
one example. She had a genius for
buying clothes. Fifty years or even
twenty years ago this genius would
have been curse. and probabl would
have amounted to nothing more
than sending her spouse into bank
ruptcy. but today It Is the means of
netting her thousands OF dollars an
her q position which Is as unique
as II Is profitable.
For the Messrs. Sclwyn q Co.. the
theatrical producers realizing that
the fashion show was a leg!i. late
form OF stage enterprise and a ,rosi-
tive exponant of the modern woL ms
life. chose Mrs. Whitney AS ,ieir
leading woman for their Fashion
Show. a reflection of life today In
three acts-morning. noon. and night.
The woman who knows how fash
ions are invented. and what they are
to be. has come into her own.
1t was assumed. OF course. that the
display of fashions was the proper
reflection of the life or modern
woman. or at least such a material
reflection that a reproduction of 1t
In the proper light could not be un-
interesting or stupid.
For ten years Mrs. Whitney, who
lives in New York when she is not
on the road. has been the fashion
oracle to whom the textile manufac-
turers and producers of women's
clothing have turned to find out
what was going to be worn the
next month. season. or even a year
off! Little wonder that the Job Of
buying for and directing the FASH
ion show fell to her lot. She may
be catalogued as a sort Of fashion
fortune teller. peculiarly gifted with
the ability to dope out" fashion
ahead Of time. She makes no secret
of her gift. and even volunteers an
explanation Of It In her own words.
She says:
THE first clue to coming style
manifests itself in a great many dif-
ferent ways. The vogue for un-
curled ostrich was launched at a
great Paris race meet by a cloud
burst. Curled ostrich was on every
hat. The rain descended in torrents
absolutely straight. detected looking
ostrich. The Paris milliners, always
sensitive to n new impression.
caught UP the idea, and we had un-
curled ostrich for several seasons.
Fashion Is AS sensitive as a bar
ometer. The stock market, the fate
OF "a play. the success OF star, the
weather. the state OF mind OF the
public, war news. political move
mcnts. the conditions OF crops. affect
fashion-which is the very weather
vane OF the world. showing which
way the trade winds blow. Find
fashion an oracle who speaks the
true word In advance of the fact,
and the oracle will have no lack Of
."Eponge dress goods was born in
the brain OF fabric designer
cudgeling his ideas for something
different with which to rphold his
reputation as a creator of novelties
Very narrow skirts. on the other
hand. started from the idea OF an
artist who loves the beautiful line
of sculpture as much AS he does
marvellous coloring. and grew from
style into international vogue very
slowly. because It had to overcome
the prejudice OF many people who
have no appreciation of beauty OF
line. The caricaturists and vulgar
women, who so often spoil a charm.
ing style by exaGgeration or deterior
alton, have driven off the narrow
skirt. IT should come back fol
street wear. II IA the lightest ir
weight, the most sanitary. the mos
economical skirt. and when proper
ly cut and proportioned. the mos
comfortable walking skirt we have
ever had.
"All new styles features are launch
ed in Paris. II is as provincial t.
decry our dress debt to Paris as t
DENY our Indebtedness to the ole
world for all that we have learned
from 1t In art, literature, music
education. architecture. philosophy
ct al. or course | go to the Pari:
openings. So do many other people