Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-12-13
very strong impression of an un-

a very strong impression of an un-
usual woman.
Clothes are something more than
coverings. They are indications OF
character. l did not meet this
woman. 1 did not have to. knew
all that ! was interested In know
ing about her from her clothes and
the way she wore them.
She is fastidious. She is reserved.
She is disciplined. She has herself
thoroughly in hand. She concen-
trates on one thing at a time. She
does not scatter nor splatter. She
understands herself and her temper
ament. She has strong personal
ity and she does not allow her gar
ments to eclipse it.
/ contrasted her with another
woman who stood near her in a
lovely gown and gorgeous lurs; but
she wore them so wretchedly that
she suggested more than anything
else badly dressed doll. Nothing
that she had on belonged together
or belonged on her. Her clothes
were scrambled and so was her
mind. l could tell that by the
breathless way she talked.
My dear" she kept announcing
to every woman within earshot, Il
have exactly five million things on
my hands just now. l am u fit sub
ject for Il madhouse." 1t was OBJ
vious. You felt physically tired after
you had looked at her for five sec
onds.
There was another woman whom
[ talked to for a few minutes, and
later some one asked me: What is
she like? Is she attractive, inter
esting?"
| stared at my questioner a mo-
ment, and then said stupidity: why,
L dcs<'t know" which was the truth.
l am one of those people who do
not see details very readily My
eye takes in things in the mass. and
when some detail obtrudes itself on
my attention it assumes a dispropor-
tionate Importance.
So ] had to confess that my in
terest had been focused on some very
peculiar and bizarre trimming on
this ladys frock, and l had been so
occupied in trying to make out just
what it was that | hadn't heard a
word she said, nor did | register. any
impressions of her at all.
She was no doubt very delight
full person, but the far too elaborate
and bewildering trimming on her
frock had reduced her to a nonen-
ity.
Dlu NOu ever hOllIC "OiilClh
shopping expression? 1t can be
studied in any of the big depart
ment stores. 1t is absorbed, tense,
harassed and ultimately wild-eyed.
1t seems strange that Freud or some
disciple of that great psychoanalyst
has never discovered the devastating
effects on the feminine constitution
of the unceasing subconscious wor-
ry about clothes.
l think the remark that hysteria
has wrecked more homes than drink
was uttered by DR.. Weir Mitchell
What creates hysteria? | unhesi-
! tatingly answer, clothes. The know,
| ledge that from the cradle to the
grave we can never get away from
/ them.
These questions are always before
! us. How to get them? What II
get? How to pay for them wher
got?
Doctors talk about muscle-strain
! eye-strain and nerve-strain. Why dC
| they never lay anything to clothes
! strain?
l am so tired of jumping rapid!
| from one frock into another that i
| somebody doesn't invent a costume
| that will be trim and suitable fo
morning, just the thing to shop
| ride, skate, walk and work in, anC
then ly fastening or unfastening
snap here and there, become i;
! sweetly pretty frock for afternoon
| suitable for teas and things, ant
I then at o'clock, with the pushing