Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-12-13


tically disappeared. One sees women
pf ultra-conservative tastes dressed in
black chiffon, with a black silk hat and
P small mourning veil of coarse-mesh
black net, SO open that it is merely
q cobweb of silk strings.
This is a widows costume. There
pre- sisters and mothers who ever omit
the veil and wear simple black clothes.
There are other sisters who put the
broad band around the sleeve; and
this has already been done, mind you,
and its influence is potent.
Complying With Government Wish.
This manner of dressing is aided and
Rbetted by our government, which
hopes that ome will not discard the
clothes they have in order to buy cost
~ and sometimes large w%ardrobes Of
crepe and other mourning h~abiliments.
1t feels that the whole nation grieves.
for itself and for others; that each
woman'S woe is echoed in another
woman's heart; that anxiety is univer-
sal. Therefore, it is not necessary for
q woman who has lost a man in battle
to go to the extreme length of draping
herself in crepe, so that her face Is
Invisible and her body weighted down
with heavy and unusual fabrics.
This is sane and sound reasoning on
the part of the government, and every
woman should adopt it in a spirit of
patriotism and an earnest desire to
make the best Of the situation.
Fabrics Good for Mourning.
If crepe is to be abandoned by the
majority, what is to be taken up? Here
Is a list compiled by the women who
want to be consistent and by the shops
who cater to them:
. Crepe de chine is an admirable fab
ric, it has been found. Black chiffon,
without a CLINT or sparkle in its sur
face, is another summer material that
serves for the street, and will serve
for the house later in the winter.
Black pongee, made into one-piece
frocks and tailored gowns, is chosen,
as well as black faille, dull net, China
silk and black muslin.
There are also black and white mus
Inns, black and white checked wooiens,
and dead-white fabrics, touched with
a black band on the arm.
Band and Star on the Arm.
There is no definite way to make
these mourning clothes. They follow
the usual fashions, but they should not
be conspicuous. This emphasis is not
observed by certain segments of So
ciety, whose clothes must be exagger-
Gted to be in keeping with their per-
sonalities; but n speaks of the mass.
So far, these clothes are for those
who will wear black, but America must
be prepared for the wearing of colors
by those who have lost their men.
This must be brought about by ma
tional feeling and by the eXigencies of
the labor situation. Women who are
busy, women who have small salaries,
women who are dependent upon the
Red Cross for their support while their
men are in battle, will not change their
clothes when they receive the fatal
message from the wal department.
Dark-blae serge, black taffeta frocks,
gray gowns, checked suits and white
s~hirtwaists will be worn. The Ameri-
can woman will adopt the British WON
ans bravery and put a black band on
the arm of whatever coat or frock she
possesses.
There is now a strong propaganda
for the gold star in memory of those
who "go West" 1t has been taken up
by institutions, churches, banks and by
many women. 1t is in keeping with
that departure Of the newspapers N
which they announce casualties under
the caption of a roll of honor.
Copyright. 1918, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate)