Omaha daily bee., 1915-11-02
y VIRGINIA TERHUNE VAN
DE WATER.

Copyright. 1918, by star Company
When we were young married my in
come was small. and It was remarka BILE
to see how well my wife dressed on Il.
She Is deft with her fingers. and she
fashioned many OF her own ciothe
Then, suddenly. l made a good sum
OF money and my father died and lef,
me still more. This enabled us to alter
our mode OF life and go into more
fashionable set OF socie y. I was glad
for | like society.
But | had no idea that tho change IN
our fortunes was going 20 make such
change In my wlfes apparel. j under
stood. OF course. that the material Of
her costumes might now he handsomer
than OF old. but Il beats me to under
stand why she need have several gowns
to take the place Of every one that she
used 20 have And nowadays she makes
over nothing.
why should II" she argues | can't
sew nearly as we'll a. the professional
dressmakers do, and, besides. they need
the very work that used to do myself,
That's very true" l agreed, and
am not objecting to your giving work
to trained dressmakers or needy sewing
women. But why have 30 many gowns
for one season."
Because" she replied. II 20 to more
functions than l once did"
But" insisted. even then you do
not wear out an evening gown In one
season. 1t may get soiled. but you can
have Il cleaned. AZ you do not dance
It certainly does not become worn or
shabby"
You seem to forget" Elisabeth said
that Il makes a woman uncomfortable
to wear the same costume in the same
crowd again and again"
Then she sighed In sheer despair OF
making me understand.
That was last fall had never seen
her more engrossed in anything than
she was In shopping and dressmakine
all through the late autumn and early
winter. determined to keep count OF her
new clothes One day when she was out
came home early and went through
her closet ! knew which were the even
! ing gowns. for they hung in light bags.
Each bag had attached TO II a smaller
one which held the slippers to match the
gown.
counted five evening dresses. three
suits, three afternoon dresses and three
fluffy things that looked like wrappers
only more elaborate. think they were
what my wife calls negllgeoH. There were
also several wraps. besides her long fur
coat. made a list Of them all and handed
II to my wife when she came In.
well, what of itl' she demanded. az
I looked my disapproval I'VE so out 90
much that / must have evening gowns
| n -nlanfy Al IN tha afteFnoou uoWna
wear them TO teas In my own home and
elsewhere. Then the suits / need for
church. calling or shopping. could no,
wear a plain serge suit 20 call in. could
II tell you." she added defiantly. as l
made no reply. when woman IL young
she may look all right in plain things
but when she is nearing middle life she
must dress handsomely or be a perfect
, trump"
"Pd risk IT," ! muttered>
what did you sayr' she L-sked,
/ repeated my remark. adding--perhaps
brutally--that / would rather have my
wife resemble a sober little domestic
bird than a vain and strutting peacock.
knew my words made Elizabeth very
angry, and she looked at me STRANGELY
for full minute before she spoke.
wondered what she was thinking.
do you mean that?' she asked at
last
IL dol" l returned savagely. Il would
rather have you as plain as q nun than
putting all my money into peacock-like
gaudiness."
This was not true--for have enough
money and to spare-but was indignant