Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-13

ly content with the clothes it has
i 1t Is when the thermometer Is In
the nineties.
1t Is true that there are millions who
really enjoy this serenity. They have
bought their summer clothes; they
have no intention of considering au-
tumn clothes. To them the situation
Is replete with satisfaction. They sit
and rock slowly in contentment. One
set of burdens has been lifted from
the shoulders, and nothing else has
taken their places. These women are
the happy ones.
But 1t Is difficult thing to achieve
this state Of satisfaction 1t is ONLY
by sheer force of will or by innate
Indifference.
There are those who think that only
the fashionable women stir themselves
to rapid action in clothes throughout
the summer season, because of the
many hands that beckon to them from
hot-weather gayeties. This is not true
1t may be said that the fashionables
are the ones who rest on their oars
during July and August. They have
the money to buy what they want at
GENTLY in advance of the summer sea-
son just what opportunities will pre-
sent themselves and what clothes will
be needed.
These women are apt to be more
businesslike in their methods than
others. They are used to controlling
large movements, to organizing affairs
on large scale, and, consequently, life
does not permit them to be haphaz ard.
Their clothes are purchased in extern
sive groups, In order to cover the ex-
act social opportunities that repeat
themselves in certain sectors of So
ciety. AS rule. they manage better,
they organize better. they have surer
and a shrewder touch in buying than
the average woman. They are rarely
reckless They are rarel1 given to
over-enthusiasm, impetuous buying,
unnecessary extravaganza.
One Of the reasons that the rich and
fashionable class have played such
powerful part in the organization Of
war work and the carrying out Of
great schemes Is that their entire lives
have been given to thinking large.
To those who know the constant
strain on the organizing powers Of
rich and fashionable women 1t is
amusing to hear the signs Of the mid
dle-class or poorer woman for the en-
viable idleness of those with money.
They have no idleness. They are not
permitted to be at leisure. They can
not do things in a niggardly way.
They do not lie abed all day, go where
they will. disregard their many serv-
ants, and know nothing Of the price
of butter and eggs.
Whenever a woman comes into
field Of large opportunity. of heavy re-
sponsibility, her trained perceptions
must encompass them, or she's fall
ure, and sometimes she's as good a
business woman and directs as large
an organization as the men of her
family.
This is the reason that our wealthy
classes stepped into the supreme activ-
tiles of war work with a power and
dominance that will go down in his
tory.
But what has all this to do with
clothes? you ask. A great deal.
II means tnat Wnat tno women OF
wealth and position buy in May or the
first of June the large class Of average
women begin to buy in the middle of
the summer.
And just at this point the average
woman has the better opportunity to
dress according to the chickering's of
fashion than the woman who buys on
large scale early in the season and
Is content with her purchases until the
next season.
You see, it's the average woman who
must buy from time to time, she who
has neither the wealth nor the Or
ganization to be- liable to forecast her
schedule OF life and all Its necessities.
She really skins the cream of the mar
ket.
1t is an interesting thing to watch
this maneuvering In the different
grades of society. The further down
the, scale of wealth. the more frequent
the purchasing of clothes and the more
ultra-fa shionable the attire of q
woman, unless she belong to a set that
does not try to be fashionable.
The woman of means does not dis
card a gown when it is out of fashion,
II 1t is otherwise good. The girl on a
small salary discards it instantly. For
her the enormous shops turn their
wheels; for her the sweatshops exist;