The broad ax., 1915-10-30

Dow to
Dress
Children

1t is the worst Of mistaken pride to
overdress a baby. If ever simplicity
needs to be thrust upon any one the
baby is the proper object. The clothes
may be as dainty as you please, but
they must be simple and the fewer the
better. Babies feel the cold and heat
more than adults, and they need free
play for their rapidly growing bodies.
Layette garments are no longer
elaborate and are provided in small
numbers. Not more than six dresses
nor more than three nightgowns are
in the first outfit. The dresses are
made without Jokes, but the material
is neat, plain and hemstitched. If lace
is used it is mostly very narrow edg-
ing, almost as fragile as the goods.
Hand sewing counts for much in the
beauty of such articles. Baby's first
short clothes may reach to the soles
of his little shoes, as usually by the
time he is able to stand he will have
grown so that the dresses will be
short enough not to be in the way.
When he is ready to take the first
steps turn the dresses up at the shoe
tops, and as he grows taller gradually
make the length Of the dresses shorter
until they are just about to the bend
of the knee.
Clothes lie much nearer to character
than many Of US suspect, and no moth
er does her full duty by her children
who does not make their clothing
matter of careful study and scrupulous
attention. Dress a child conspicuously
every day with bright colors, ribbons
and fancy frocks and you will surely
develop in the child a display loving
disposition, vanity, forwardness and
self consciousness.
A child's wardrobe does not call for
great variety. 1t should comprise no
more garments than are consistent
with comfort and tidiness. Why buy
more dresses or suits than are needed
when they are sure to be outgrown?
Instead Of making an endless number
of garments to be outgrown instead Of
outworn, make your little daughter
four each of petticoats, drawers, plain
and afternoon dresses and two white,
laced trimmed batiste ones for dress
occasions. Do not permit her to wear
in the morning the half soiled dress
worn the previous afternoon, but in
stead put on her dark one-piece dress |
with boomers to match.
Many mothers wisely dress their lit |
tie girls in cotton frocks all winter. |
With leggings, sweaters, boomers and |
warm coats for outdoor life this Gus
tom makes for comfort in steam heated |
homes. Little serge gowns with bloom ]
ers to match and one-piece frocks over
pretty guimpes may take the place of |
thin ones, but suitable clothing next |
the skin make ginghams, piques and |
such materials useful even during cold |
Fancy footwear is attractive, but |
grimy little knees and soiled socks are
not, while good quality stockings and
black or tan leather shoes are always
presentable and with leggings are COM
Portable all winter.
For wear with afternoon dresses
make two waist petticoats Of cambria,
tucked and trimmed with effective but
durable embroidery. The other two,
for wear with her best dresses, make
Of nainSoOk and trim them with fine
linen torchon. For the afternoon
dresses use muslin for the four. Trim
me with embroidery, another with lace,
1 third with bands and the fourth with
hand embroidery.
No two of the dresses will look alike.
yet when they are too much worn for
surther use you can easily make from
he portions still in good condition two
lresses which will look as well as en-
irely new ones. Make them simply,
cutting them, if possible, by a one
)iece pattern. A dress made in this
ashton and opened down the back
rom the neck to hem is ironed in half
he time it takes for one which must be
dipped over the ironing board. You
an frequently make the guimpes from
7our own partly worn lingerie waists.