The Detroit times., 1916-01-26
THE POLYMURIEL
BY DR.. FRANK CRANE
Copyright 1915. by Frank Crane)

trlbulahons, encouragement and ridicule,
after thinking, planning, devising, work
ing and compromising, the Polymuriel is
an accomplished fact.
The Polymuriel is a gown.
1t is gown that a woman can wear
for all purposes and on all occasions.
Therein lies its polymurielacity
early last summer" says the In
dianapolis News, "a brave coterie of
women of independent thought and ac-
ton formed themselves into an organi-
zation whose purpose was to devise
gown for women which would be adapt
able to every form of social and domes-
tic life one in which the wearer could
cook a meal, wash the dishes, clerk,
typewrite, shop wear to informal lunch
cons, contract and garden in, or expand
and dance in.
1t was a big undertaking, but success
at last has crowned it. The Polymuriel
is here
II is thus described:
The inner part is made in two pieces,
opening down the front TO the waist line,
in order that il may be donned conven-
iently. The shocking allows for fulness
over the bust. Yoke panel, belt, and
tunic are made in one piece detachable
for the purpose of reversing. The plain
side, helped by an attractive collar and
cuffs, is suitable for business wear. The
Kaleidoscope quality of the gown, which
makes it suitable for evening and other
wear. is obtained by shifting the waist
line up almost to the armpits or down
to the hips, removing the lower part OF
the sleeves, deleting the panels and the
drop skirt, as well as by other devices"
OF course, | don't understand this,
and quote it here for the benefit Of wom-
an readers who are versed in such tech
nical lingo.
All a mere man can gather is that
gown has been created that can be used
/ for all purposes, and that the great and
complex question of clothes for women,
which occupies a deal more feminine at
tention than votes for women, has final
/ ly been simphfed.
/ Maybe
And after pause for reflection, again
maybe.
For the male mind is obscured by
doubts.
First, he strongly questions whether
women of independent thought and ac-
+ tion" have anything to do with the
clothes question. Conversation among
your female friends will reveal that their
current opinion is that "strong-minded'
women are usually dowdy and reform"
garments hideous.
Also very frequently, that the most
pigeon-headed and vacuous ladies are
they who set the styles which others fol-
/ low.
Are not women seeking to rectify by
intelligence a custom that never had any
/ intelligence in it?
It is to be feared that the earnest
souls who put their faith in Polymuriel
are unaware of what the dress business
is.
For it is a GAME. It is not a business
at all.
It is to the woman what baseball or
poker is to the man, a passionate pas
time.
We're the Polymuriel victorious it
would close up the most gorgeous and
palatial stores in the city. Thither
every weekday afternoon flock the
ladies' to wander and admire, to dream
and covet, to discuss and pick and buy
and wish they could buy. Does Polly
imagine she's going to stop all that fun7
Besides. what will become of the
aides Home Journal, the Pictorial Re-
view the Woman's World, the Delnea-
| tor. Vogue and good part Of the Sab
| bath newspaper?
We much fear, Polymuriel, that your
hopes are like Henry Ford's You mean
well. but YOU don't realize what you're
IN AGAINST