Evening star., 1915-11-21

Whether the fashions suggested the
innovation of ice skating in public
places, or the shadow of the new FASH
ion, which was cast before the au-
tumna1 display of apparel. had strong
influence on what was to be worn no
one can tell Who cares? The two
fashions are here together linked
hand-in- hand.
There is small reason to suppose that
ice skating will be inaugurated as "a
nastime in private houses. We may in
stall bathrooms, pipe organs, picture
galleries. indoor squash and tennis
swimming pools heated by UNDER
floor pipes, but the installation oi g
private ice rink is asking too much oi
even the American multlmllhohaire.
The pastime is in the nature OF ca
price while the other recreatlohs aIe
eternaIly INDUCED in by generations Oh
social folk. Hotel people, however, have
no such economy demanded OF them pS
the limitations Of the private purse.
If they really have their ear to the
ground and believe they near the ae
parting steps of the dance and the IN
coming glide of the skates, rs they
claim. then they are the ones 10 IN
augurate the ice parlors for the oene-
fit of a vast public that still takes It's
pleasure at a price in the company OF
the masses. sitting cheek by jowl with
any one who has the ability to pay
The conservative ones In. the CON.
nunity are opposed to this lack OF
discrimination in seeking amusement
and it has been the reproach OF the
ultrafashionable set that it has led the
way in this social highway, out no re-
proach, argument or disapproval alters
the situation. There may be a few hum
dred people who decline to lend their
presence to public gatherings in search
of amusements, but the great majority
have ceased to hold an opinion that in
terferes with their enjoyment.
There are still many communities in
which it is very bad taste to dine at
a hotel restaurant, or dance IN a nail,
but no such squeamishness prevails in
the great centers where fashions are
inaugurated- There is notable falling
off in the number of smart folk who
dine in public. it is true, but the res
tauyants are always sufficiently crowd
ed in the evening with those who make
TO pretense of being smart"
Well. to return to our mutton. These
new clothes are ideal for skating. They
are far better there than on the street,
for during the first windy days of No
veInber the new skirts showed of what
malicious evil they were capable. They
swirled in the air like sheets of paper.
One could think that all the colored
supplements had been thrown in the
streets and caught by the gales.
Even the new high boots failed to
give women protection to their legs;
also the legs of passersby were in
volved, for the several yards of ma
terial used in the skirt wrapped around
them so that entire strangers were
sometimes held in tight grip, their
double embarrassment preventing them
from extricating themselves with any
degree of grace.
There have been ludicrous sights
since the wind and wide skirts Joined
forces. If women can go on wearing
them with pleasure and happy dis
position. then much can be said for the
control of fashion over mind
II is not only the fulIness of the
skirt that is suggestive of skating in
the prevailing costume for this winter
The extraordinary use of peltry, the
snallness Of the fitted hat, the high