Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-10-29
by ANNE RITTENHcUSE.

E1RuLy. this season in clothes
may go down into history as
the age of gold.
a. 1t is queer turn in the wheel
of fate that the United States. after
expecting to be bankrupt at the begin
ming of the great war, has become so
rich that her wealth cannot be counted.
In the minds Of the best iinanciers
there has never been period in the
history of America when as much
trouey could be made through Wall
street aus today. Clerks have become
millionaires. miilionares have become
billionaires Women who were work
ing for q living have been able to re-
tire with q competency of $4,000
year from investments. Fortunes have
been lost as they always Will be lost
ny those who gamble without thought
of anything but the game. but the men
and women with strong minds ano
steady nerves have reaped in harvest
of money in way as easy as Aladdin
rub on his lamp Even those who have
not gone into speculation have had
profitable employment and good wages
and have spent the latter with prodi-
gality.
This condition might seem shameless
In contrast to the agonized suffering
and poverty of the rest of the civilized
world. if it were not for the lavish
generosity of America to all who suffer
and to all who need.
Out of the MILLIONS we have made.
we have given millions. II is probable
that in all history's reckoning there
has never been so much rendered in
money and personal aid by neutral
country to a belligerent one as has
been done by the United States to Eu-
rope in two years.
This bit of a summary of prosperous
conditions. which has nothing to do on
its surface with the clothes of women.
is really so closely allied to dress that
IT is probable the historian OF the fu-
ture In writing of this wonderful sea-
of magnificent clothes will link the
tive conditions together.
II is not an exaggeration to say that
clothes are made of bullion. That is
why this season will go down into dress
history as the age of gold.
Possibly. when the de Medicis reigned
in Italy, and when the most gorgeous
trousseau in the world was prepared
for the young Catherine, Princess of
Florence. who was to marry French
king. the son of Francois Premier,
there might have been such gowns in
cluded as France offers America today.
Yet it is to be doubted. One of the
astounding facts that is brought to the
minds of those who are interested in
the prices of women's apparel is the
topography of Rose Berthe. who was
dressmaker to Marie Antoinette. This
gives itemiZed bills of the clothing sup
piled to the young queen and her en-
tourage. Remember that the eXtrava-
gance of these clothes is said to have
been one of the prime causes of the
French revolution and the real reason
for sending the Austrian to the gull
lotine. Yet Marie Antoinette paid one
fifth as much for gown to be worn
at the greatest court in the world as
the moment of it's highest extrava-
gance. in a period that has gone down
into history for it's cost of dress, as a.
rich, fashionable woman of New York
will pay for ball gown this season.
The only single item of expense that
the dressmakers forgot to place on the
gowns of today was precious Jewels
There IL feeling on the part of many
women who pay for these new clothes
that there must be a diamond hidden
somewhere in the folds.
Everything that could be devised to
create expense was thought of and I
used Every animal in the land gave |
up its hide; every glittering stone that |
could be produced from crystals, natu- |
raj and artificial. we're gathered to- |
gether and facetted by skilled work. |
men and raised 40 per cent of their |
Sell t.