The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-17
BUTTON
EverybOdy's Got 'Em-FashiOn
DEGREES They're Necessary.
Buttons Up, Buttons Down, But
tons All All Around.
BY MARGARET MASoN.)

written for The Topeka state Journait
Belinda's garments button up,
Likewise they button up,
Some button together;
The question is whether
She's hooked all the buttons in town.
| New York. March 17.-"Button, but
ton, who's got the buttonf' has ceased
to be a thrilling interrogation. 1t must
needs be relegatcd to its proper place
among Goldbers Foolish Questions
The answer is so painfully and unani-
mously obvious: Everybody's got it.
No. one measly, lonesome little but
| ton either: not even lone, two, button
my shoe,'' but three, four and then
heaps more
There's a perfect epidemic of but
tons. Like the measles or spring
rash Every coat, suit, frock, blouse,
cape and sweater is rashly broken out
with them. No one has an eye for
hook any more. We are all just look
ing to buttons as a means of faSten-
ing on fashion.
The long, straight lines of the pres
ent popular coat gowns and chemise
frocks are just pie for buttons. They
are buttoned up one side and down the
other. Some are putting their best
buttons forward and others, turning
their backs on them, use them never
thelesS to back them up. The long,
tight sleeves are often trimmed in odd
small buttons from the elbow to the
wrist, while those that are widely
cuffed have two or three large and
unique buttons fastening the cuff.
Collars and Pockets All Buttons.
Shawl collars, roll collars and just
any kind of collars at all bristle with
buttons They fiaunt them openly and
, above board and not at all in the usual
erstwhile retiring and effacing manner
of all good little old-fashioned and
useful collar buttons. To be sure, col
lar buttons did use to be a bit bone
handed, but some of them were pearls
among buttons and indeed quite a few
were even pure gold Anyway, they
knew their place and performed a
mission in life and neckband, where
as these present day collar buttons
wander all over the place and the only
thing that is really attached to them
is fashionable Importance
Then there are pockets as another
great breeding place for buttons.
Positively the pockets are all SO full
of buttons that you haven't any place
any more to pocket your pride.
If this dissertation on buttons has
brought nothing before your mind S
eye save round. fiat discs with two or
four perforations for sewing them on
brush up on the newest buttons or else
you will be quite overcome when they
burst on you in all their divers shapes
and glory. They will burst on you too
as 'Peggoty' in David Copperield"
often demonstrated.
All Kinds of Shapes.
Now the new buttons are square,
hexigon, octagonal, oblong, oval and
almost anything but plain round. They
are concave, convex, cubic and spheri-
cal. They are carved, dyed. enam-
eled, handpainted, darned, crocheted
and metallized and made of wood,
bone, pearl jet, gunmetal. ivory,
china, silver. gold, brass. silk, worst
ed. enameled or handpainted tin
leather. lacquer. glass, straw or any
other little odd thing you happen to
have about the house
They are made. in vivid contrasting
combinations of color and weird and
distorted shapes. They bloom with
flora and disport as fauna Cameo
buttons are very smart. Monogram
med ones are good also
An old charm string of buttons that
my mother made when she was little
girl has fascinated me from childhood
with its quaint and charming effects.
If my offspring should start a charm
string with the buttons of today her
children would no doubt be thrown
into fits when confronted with the
weird shapes, hectic colors and ami
mated animals that now adorn US.
1S5 on One Gown.
But be that as it may. we simply
must be buttoned even if we are not
buttoned simply. Already a most uD
to date young person 1 know has sewn
1875 wee ones on a georgette crepe
blouse. So button your buttons while
you may and just think how jolly and
convenient it will be when waiting
long hours for Reggie to come home
from the club to play 'richman, poor
man, beggarman, chief: doctor. law
yer, merchant. thief" with yourself to
determine your next fate after your
have divorced him.
Bad Cough? Feyerish? GrfDpy1