The Washington times., 1918-08-07

gested wearing uniform
- to the average woman.
she threw up her hands In
horror. What! Wear the same
things that a thousand other women
were wearing? Give up the Joyous
pursuit of clothes so distinctive that
there was only one copy extanti
Never. never. never.
The girl who held q 81 q week job
used to be just as eager to wear
smart, distinctive things as the So
cisty belle. Outside of the fetching
nurses costumes, a uniform was
anathema to woman
But now all is different Those
smart little khaki suits worn by
women in various branches Of war
service have influenced q change OF
heart on the part of the average
woman to the whole subject of unit
forms.
Today a uniform stands for war
service. II is worn with PRIDE
And / understand that there Is an
unwritten law which gives many
little perquisites to the wearer of
q uniform Recently I was told
that a woman wearing q uniform
usually receives preferential serv-
ice in hotels. on Pullman trains, and
other public places of service
One day while on q surface car
I observed a gentleman, who had
hitherto been so immersed In his
newspaper that he had no eyes for
half a dozen women standing and
clinging to straps. nevertheless rise
promptly when a khaki-clad young
woman with a badge of the motor
corps entered the car.
These, however, are very minor
advantages The real value of the
uniform lies In its comfort for the
wearer. You do not know what II
Is to work comfortably until you
have discarded flowing skirts and
fraiI blowsy waists IN favor Of the
trim, close-fitting uniform II your
Job requires your standing or walk
ing most of the day, you don't know
real comfort until you have adopted
the trousered costume II you are
working in garden or field or doing
the tasks OF the household you
don't know comfort until you wear
overalls.
There used to be a prejudice
against these masculine articles of
apparel from women who feared II
would minimize their charms. But
that doesn't happen. Some women
even are improved in appearance
when overall-clad. The women's
models are neat and boyishly
charming and becoming to all ex-
cept the extremely stout
But " women in farm and fac
tory have come to see the value OF
the uniform. why doesn't the girl
in the business office do likewise? !?
An officer uniform for women could
easily be selected from the many
styles now being created. 1t would
mean greater comfort at work. and
more. 1t would remove the tempt
alton to spend all their earnings
from the minds OF girls who can't
AFFORD to dress extensively. yet
make a determined effort to imi-
tate their more well-to-do friends
in the matter of dress
Many girls would live in more
comfortable quarters, feed them
selves more wholesomely and have
more money to put into Govern
ment stamps and bonds IL they had
the temptation to dress extrav-
agantly forever removed by the IN
PRODUCTION of a uniform for busi-
ness women.
The uniform stands for intelli-
gence, for useful service. for a
businesslike attitude toward the
Job, for less vanity OF person. II
is today a badge of honor. Why
shouldn't the women who are 10y
ally sticking to useful posts in
business have the privilege Of
wearing a suitable uniform?