The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-11-14
Censor Of Dresses
For Young Girls
Sets An Example
BY MEMORY M,eoRp.

Fashioned Of the thinnest Of materials
and the finest. the frock was a beauty.
Each line and fold of its make spoke
youth, culture and nonendurance. 1t
was a wonderful model on display in a
suit and coat establishment, and how
much Mrs. John o. Flautt, Of Macon
road, wanted It.
Not that the price asked was too high
or that the dress wasn't becoming; it
was unusually so; but she made up her
mind she couldn't have 1t,
Just take 1t away" she commanded
the modiste, land don't be tempting me
with high -heeled slippers either. |
don't mean to buy anything that's not
plain and practical"
But, Madame" objected the mo-
diste. "you are young-pretty-you
must have t~hese-ah, yes-made for
you, they WERE
"Well you'll have to fit 'em to some
body else" Mrs, Fiautt said rather dry
ly. 1t was a shame, but she just
couldn't have them. Hadn't she just
been appointed censor of dress for the
girls in the public schools and wouldn't
1t be terrible II she set them q bad
example? With almost a shiver. she
moved away from the beautifully fash
Toned garment.
You see" she explained, "the Par
ent-Teacher organization here has APP
pointed me to instruct school girls in the
matter of dress, to lecture and gossip
with them upon the sensibleness of the
low-heeled shoes and the plain street
garment, and If l bought your model
and lectured in it-what would be the
good of my wasting words addressing
them. All the time they would be men
tally copying your estimable garment
and some time later in the week Mary,
Susie and the whole outfit would at
tend their language classes dolled up
in excellent limitations. No. nothing
doing. I'll buy a plain serge, please,
or. something similar and-weii-She
did.
The outcome is her lectures to Cen
trail high school pupils are having
weight. with the assistance of Miss
Mary Lizzie Hancock, director of the
schools economies department, she has
caused the popularity Of peekabo9
blouses to fall 30 per cent. High -heeled
shoes also are gradually being re-
placed by l~ow-heeled Cuban affairs, and
the puffs on school girls ears have
reduced several degrees. Naturally
there Is a brighter, more pleasant look
to Central high than there has been In
years.
Boiling over with the reformation
idea, school girls are designing the sim
plest of frocks in the sewing classes,
and many are the pretty, neat dresses
that Miss Hancock Is assisting the girls
In creating. AL unusual model seen
yesterday was a sweet pink evening coat
such as grandmother couldn't help but
love and approve. According to the
young girl who is making 1t, she and
Miss Hancock have copied the color
and design from a downtown model that
cost more than 500, and the little girl
said, Mine cost less than $40"
A black satin dress. plainly and pref
tily made, was another interesting gar
ment examined. Several serges were
additionally displayed.
best possible material" Miss Hancock
explained yesterday, but we insist
upon its being fairly substantial and
upon the girls designing only plain
modish things. No vamp models are
turned out In our sewing classes and
the girls all look very nice, don't you
think?" And they do.