The Washington herald., 1918-07-26
WOULD FORBID
HIGH HEELS AS
WAR MEASURE
Woman S Association oi
Commerce Seeks Ban on
Other "Frailties" Too.

Beauty bags" 'high-heeled shoes
and other so-called useless femi-
nine frailties have been banned by
the woman's Association Of Com
merce of the U. 8. A. as a fea-
ture of wartime conservation. ac-
icordjng to Mrs. Howard Gould. ma
tional secretary OF that organiza-
| tion, who Is now in Washington
with Miss Florence King. national
president. When seen at the WASH
ington offices of the association in
the Metzerott Building, 1110 F
street, last evening. Mrs. Gould said
propaganda had been launched
against the absurdities of feminine
attire which have been largely in
strumental in holding woman in
! the bondage of fashion for many
years.
| Business women now realize"
Mrs. Gould explained. that the
logical time for dress reform has
come with the great war. We are
going to be sensible in the matter
of dress as in many other things.
Women now have the voting privi-
! lege in many States and they are
measuring up grandly in the COM
mercial world. They are going to
abandon pink teas and bridge for
the real activities of life.
'DoII Baby" to Vanish.
THE evolution of the American
woman from the doll-baby stage
is at hand. No longer will the edu-
Gated business woman permit man
to bedeck her with gaudy nothings
and mount her upon a pedestal for
his admiration. Instead of being
mans plaything in the future. she
is going to work out her own des-
tiny in commerce and the profess
sions. In politics she Is going to
be a veritable power.
This great war, besides emanci-
pating the peoples OF the old world
from autocracy. will emancipate
woman from the slavery Of conven-
ton and the tyranny OF the fashion
plate. IT will place her upon
plane of equality with her brother
man.
My blood fairly boils," Mrs. Gould
continued, when I consider that
practically all the fashions for women
are designed by nilly-willy men. and
that is the reason OF their grotesQue
| horribleness. Yet foolish women adopt
the man-made styles without hesi-
fancy and convert themselves into
stalking freaks by wearing them. But
I do not find women designing the
styles for men, or writing advice to
fathers Perhaps II they did we
would not see males wearing the
idiotic belted-in suits OF clothing and
freak ties that are now so general.
Recommended New Costume.
I'VE do not criticize and condemn
these things without being construc-
tive. The woman's Association OF
Commerce, under the leadership of
Miss Florence King OF Chicago, will
recommend 10 American women
| common-sense costume which may be
worn at any time. This outfit will
not only be becoming but healthful
The weight OF the outfit will be car
ried by the shoulders. Women can
! maintain their beauty and yet be
sensible. The frailty OF modern Ewes
| is largely due to such absurdities as
| high-heeled shoes, vise-like corsets,
decollette gowns and other things that
perhaps would appeal to the women
/ Of the Fiji Islands, but should be
| banned by the educated and talented
twentieth-century sister Of civilized
| countries"
1t is Mrs. Gould's opinion also that
| while this country is in the stress OF
war the golf links and baseball parks
| should be converted into war gardens