Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-21
Xantippe Dialogues
(ARE MEN SLAVES TO
FASHION?)

Come, come, lydia" said Xantlp-
De, you've been called to breakfast
twice already. Don't you know you
are keeping everybody waiting? It's
not proper for children to annoy old
er people in that way"
| Ignoring the reproof, Lydia came
slowly TO her chair, her eyes still fas-
tened upon the gay pictures in the
new spring catalogue. Mamma, I'm
afraid l shall have to have all new
dresses this season. My last years
dresses are perfectly good. but the
skirts are so narrow that / can't
wear them at all, and | don't believe
there Ia enough material In them TO
make over"
THAT was the trouble with them
In the first place." said her mother,
sourly. They were too skinny TO
he decent, but You would have them
so, and the scamstress encouraged
you in It. Now you see, they'll just
have to be given away"
well. mamma" said Lydia, with
more spirit than she usually showed.
you wouldn't like to have me be a
freak, would You? I'm sure / suf-
fercd enough; couldn't run, nor step
across tho gutter, nor even get on the
street car without hopping like a tur-
key, but II all the other girls were
hobbled I had 10 be. too. didn't ~"
20, Fashion Fashion, what absurd
tiles are perpetrated in thy name!"
ehanted Xantippe
Weren't you just as bad as the |
rest, mator?" put in Alexander. I'm |
sure If l hadn't been there TO catch /
you, you would have been thrown that |
night You tried to step from the car |
to the sidewalk IN front OF the tenn |
pie of Minerva"
WELL" said Xantippe. II 10 not I
deny that ] am glad TO see more sen-
sible fashions coming in, even If IT.
does cost us moro for material. |
only hope they won't keep right on in
the same direction, until we are load
ed down with ruffles and pettcoats
as we used 20 be-"
nv this time Socrates had finished
reading the Morning Mercury, and
showed signs of taking an interest in
the conversation.
II wonder why women allow them
selves to be tyrannized over by Fash
ion in the way they do. Men never
would consent to such a slavery. Why
not select some sensible and comfort
able style of dress and adhere TO it2'
SO men would never consent to be !
slaves of Fashion, echoed Xantippe. /,
with biting sarcasm Then / shant !
need To sew any more buttons on the
back or sleeves Of coats, since they ,
are there for no other reason than l
becaus, il is the fashion. I wonder. I
now, why that big pile OF perfectly I
good collars and cuffs was on the
1oor in Alexander's room yesterday ?" {
Why, mater, YOU know nobody :
wears separate cuffs days, and ;
hose collars are back numbers" =
20, | seei' said Xantippe, but of {
course you don't mean that they are !
nut of fashion,"
A light seemed TO be dawning on !
he philosophers face !
II think | begin TO understand now y
Why | could not find any shirts of
ny favoritc style in the shops. 1t IN
must be that the fashion had chang v
d." admitted Socrates, little shame !
acedly. y
Have you ever thought of n way 4
o explain why men wear derby hats =
ne season, telescope crowns the next =
nd then change from sober black and "
ray to gayest green's and striped v
ands2 And do YOU know why
rouscrs are like divided skirts one
ear and so tight the next that you y
ave to take off your socks before
gu can remove themgn asked Nam Z
ippe. =
Really. my dear, never gave the y
natter amy thought" replied her hns- =,
and
We'll, suppose you think about II !.
little, before YOU make any remarks =,
} public about women being slaves To ~
'ashtoni' suggested Nantippe -