Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-21
HOW OLD CLOTHING
]! MAY Be UTILIZED
Health Problems and Recre-
alton for Soldiers Also
Themes at Meeting.
OPENING OF CAMPAIGN

A campaign for conservation or cloth-
ing and health and for recreation for
the soldiers in camp and cantonment
was inaugurated at a meeting of the
District Of Columbia Congress Of Moth
ers and the Parent-Teacher Associa-
ton at the Home Club yesterday after
noon.
Health problems which confront the
people of Washington today. especially
those which must be solved for their
children by the mothers. were discussed
by DR.. William c. woodward. District
health officer. He said there should be
an organized campaign in the interests
of health, in which all organizations IN
the capital having to do with child wei
fare should cooperate. Each organi-
cation he said, should be assigned It's
particular share in this campaign NOW
that the country is at war. with the
probable loss of many American Iives
Ct the front it was Of greater child fGah life
should be conserved.
DR.. woodward laid particular stress
upon the necessity of training cniiurs in
themselves in the proper care OF tnelr
health. This training. he said. can De
properly given only by the parents ana
should be continued from infancy
through high school days.
What Mothers Congress Is Doing.
What the National Congress of Mothers
f. doing for the soldier sons in the camps
in the matter Of providing recreation was
told by Mrs. Frederic c. Schron OF Phlia-
delphia, president of the national con-
gress.
bers Of the congress of mothers had VISIT
ed the camps and environments. and had
young men. In Philadelphia, she said.
particularly well equipped clubhouse had
been opened. This work. she said. was
being done. in large part, by the older
service, and who had special interest
in the work. The congress OF mothers
she said, would cooperate with the
Young Mems Christian Association when
ever possible in providing recreation for
the soldiers.
Plans for Utilizing Old Clothing.
What can te done by making over old
clothing into new garments was de-
scribed by Mrs. c. E. Stoddard. chair
man of the child welfare department
She urged the mothers to conserve cloth
ing by utilizing old clothing. showing
that thirty-four different articles can
be made from mems discarded shirts
She said that most women could make
garment from new material, but few
had any idea how to use cast-on cloth
ing for such a purpose. There is much
material at hand. she said, which wom-
en- could readily use to make garments
for their children, and for themselves
and for others il they would learn how.
IF you give away clothing that needs
q patch>0r two have found that it will
ordinarily be put on and worn with
out mending. and soon can be worn no
longer" said Mrs. Stoddard. IF it had
been made over into new garments they
would have lasted a long time. OF
course do not mean to say that gar
ments made from old clothing will last
as long as those made from new mate
rial. but they will last an appreciable
time and do much good. In these war
times it is just as necessary to con-
serve clothing as it Is to conserve food
and other materials"
Mrs. Stoddard advised the mothers to
get out cast-on clothing which could be
utilized in making new garments.
Every man. woman and child in the
country could be clad properly this
winter If every mother in the country
would do this. she said.
Suggests Sewing Clubs.
She advocated the establishment Of
sewing clubs in all the schools, to
which the women could go and take
their sewing. and exchange ideas as to
the best use that material could be put
and the best way in which garments
may be shaped. The women who have
no children to sew for could help the
mothers who have, she said. Such a
plan. she thought, would go far toward
bringing about the simpified dressing
In schools which has been demanded by
mothers organizations for so many
years.
Mrs Stoddard said this campaign for
the conservation of clothing was being
carried on in many other cities where
the Congress of Mothers has branches
An exhibit prepared under her supervi-
sion and by her showing what gar
ments may be made from CASTOR
clothing has been sent around the
country. She exhibited some of the ar
ticles which may be made from a mans
shirt.
Mrs. Joseph s. Randall was appoint
ed member of the clubhouse commit
tee of the District Federation of Wom-
ems Clubs, representing the Congress
OF Mothers This committee is work
ing on plans to obtain a clubhouse for
the federation.