Evening star., 1915-12-19
Special Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence of The star
NEW YORK. December IS. 1915.
07 WHEN the season approaches
NLU Christmas there is birth
W\V of interest in the buying OF
" clothes Guard ourselves as
we will, encompass ourselves with reso-
lutions, with common-sense reasoning
with truthful communing concerning
the valueless efforts we put forth for
this one day, Christmas still brings Its
train of exhaustion, anxiety and flnan-
cial worry.
There has been marked improvement
in the keeping of Christmas. The ma
jority of women have seen the folly OF
wearing out their nerves to the point
of weeping and spending more money
than they have a right to spend. They
have been made to realize that the
spirit of the day Is gone when a men
tai whip is used to make every one
overreach the mark in giving and be-
come bitter pessimists on the 26th OF
December. If there is anything In
celebrating the day on which Chrtsten-
dom Is founded. then 1t is made null
and void by irritation, resentment and
giving in a spirit of duty.
We built up a house of cards with
this day as foundation stone. house
that should have fallen long ago. The
whole structure was artificial and in
keeping with the American habit Of
OVERRIDING things.
The exchange Of gifts had become a
cruel practice: 1t made it's demands on
the poor and the sick alike. 1t did not
allow any one to escape; 1t added an in
tolerable burden to those who had
neither extra time nor money to spend.
A year ago. however, there came a
halt, a revision of the situation. The
war brought 1t about. Women were
giving all their efforts to relieving the
destitute and the wounded abroad and
the poor and unemployed in this coun-
try. II was SO black time In history
last December-that it was borne in
upon even the most callous and selfish
that a vast exchange Of insignificant
presents among people who did not
want them nor need them was an act
so uncharitable and SO selfish, when
millions cried for bread. that it re-
ceived a sudden check.
Never was a Christmas spent in so
humane a manner. No excuse was
needed for the absence of gifts in
quantity among friends. except the one
supreme statement that spread over
this continent-that every penny and
every effort was being expended to-
ward the relief of the vast multitude
of people whom the war had stripped
of everything.
What the American women have done
for charity in the last year is one of
the blazing chapters in humane history,
and the wonder of 1t is that 1t has no
chronicler and has practically passed
unnoticed without its due.
While 1t may be true that too much
was done In a sentimental way with
out practical value. the fact remains
that the spirit behind the giving was
right. In the tidal wave of outgiving
to- the sick and the destitute. our wom-
en- reached height of charity and un-
selhshness that only the civil war had
brought out before. They forgot the
usual practice Of giving hundreds Of
Such an experience has had its mark.
This Christmas will see something Of
the same spirit, for the prosperity in
our own country turns our attention
more and more to the needs of Europe.
The question Of clothes is not unim-
portant at this moment, however. be-
cause 1t is a well known fact that the
masses Of American women wait until
after Christmas to take serious ac-
count Of their wardrobes. They have
learned that then everything comes
down to a more normal price and one
that suits their purses.
-,
gowns to carry them over the first
months of autumn. which in this coun-
Try are usually mild and full Of sun
shine. The growing fashion Of re-
naming out Of the cities until this
month has also contributed to the buy
ing of new clothes after this week. We
have developed into nation of sports
women, in clothes. If not in activities.
and not only the fashionable women,
but those who follow in their footsteps.
have found that the country. or even
the suburbs. is a wholesome atmos-1
phere until the cold and storms there
make the cities more alluring.
This arrangement allows one to get
the service from many Of the gowns
that have been left over from spring
and summer. especially since the fash
ION LOT ncaNy topSOdto ohU NSAS'SN S--t@
sweaters and mufiers has become so
marked. All kinds Of thin clothes have
been available under these dark outer
garments In other seasons one might
have deplored the fact that such
process depleted the Golfers OF those
who make and sell clothes. but there
is no complaint this season on any
eide. Dull times may follow, but since
the middle of August the enort mas
been to keep up with the orders la
all the places where womens apparel
is furnished
country, there is another large class
who prefer to wait until after the
Christmas season TO get their clothes.
because the expenses OF the autumn are
so heavy. The first three months Of
the season are apt to take all the vi
tality and most of the money from peo-
Pile Every woman knows that the
summer Is really the time for rest and
preparation for the extraordinary ef-
forts that are demanded to be put forth
between October and the middle OF De-
cember No one escapes. All the hustle
and hurry and energy of the year are
packed. like sardines, into this small
compass of time.
house. the necessary things to buy.
often the changing OF servants and re-
organizing Of ones existence or, at
least ones method of proceeding
rhrough life. and the gathering up of
all the loose ends of the summer are
things that take unlimited effort and
o cool head.
is also true in the shops. and there