Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-17

better to pay wages than to give to
When hundreds Of gowns were thrown
back on dressmakers' hands. on the
plea that there would be no money to
pay for such extravaganza. and the
sweeping sales that undervalued what
ever clothes the rich women had al
ready bought, new idea concerning
economy was born in the brains OF
wealthy women.
The second movement on the part
OF masses of women was then direct
ed toward providing money for those
who worked. and at the same time
eliminating the appearance Of waste
and extravaganza.
The same idea worked well in both
directions: it kept the workers en-
ployed and gave them sufficient money
on which to live, and it did not offend
the public. No one wants to appear
frivolous or unthinking in a crisis like
this When women are dressed in gold
or silver, in jeweled trappings and in
precious gems, that vast public that is
thinking only of how to live and how
to sacrifice might begin to murmur
those terrible sentences Of the French
people in the revolution.
There Is every reason to economic
in food. If we believe the alarmists,
the nation faces famine. Even If we
are optimists. we know that the
we must do our part to cut down our
atoms.
Wanton wastefulness in the kitchen
is today sin against the country.
1t is unpatriotic. it is selfish almost
to the point of traitorous.
But there is no scarcity of fabrics
for clothes There are 100000 workers
in New York alone dependent upon the
continuance of the purchasing of APP
parcel Women need not economic in
this department.: they should not
economize, for that in itself is a grave
injustice to the workers. But there
are two things they should do. and
do them with firmness and sanity; they
should absolutely refuse to pay the
absurd and unjust prices of some dress
makers, and they should refuse to dress
in a gorgeous and unseemly manner
A woman confessed the other day
| that she almost had hysterIa when
she received bill for $3.50 for
crepe de chine afternoon gown on the
day that this country declared war.
The wise comment on that was that
she should have hysteria on any day
of her life. to incur such bill: There
was no sanity or justice in asking that
price for that kind of frock.
A dancer, who had just paid $500
for a gown in which to do a speciality
under the flags Of the nations. was
caustically reminded that she should
better have given the $500 to the men
under the flags.
1t is told of Marshal Jofrre that.
when he had looked at all the mag
nificent decorations in American cities
in his honor. he said sadly to one of
his intimates: How many mouths that
money would have fed in France"
It is the appearance of extravaganza.
therefore, that women should avoid in
these times of stress. Let them spend
as literally for apparel as they can
afford, but let all women follow the
lead Of the wealthy and conservative
set and see to 1t that their clothes
reflect this great hour in dignity.
seriousness and simplicity.
It Is Interesting to know that Ger
many is the first of the belligerents
to put restriction on the amount of
wearing apparel for each person. The
imperial clothing Office has fixed the
amount of garments that each man
or woman may buy or possess during
the year This Office also limits the
amount Of material which may be
used in the making of a gown or a