The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-15

matter of dress. LAS long as they dis
play the thin waists which we see on
the streets and in business houses and
everywhere, they will be bought. If
women would just be big enough and
broad enough to demand more sensible
clothes and refuse to buy the other
sort, they would stop selling them,
and then we would have more stability
in the matter of clothes" she de-
cIared.
Mrs. S. s. Estey was 1oath to ex-
press an opinion, saying that it was a
rather delicate and peculiar subject to
handle, but was willing TO be quoted
as saying that she thought a thoro
discussion of it among club women
was desirable. II was much i'm
of lectures given at the high school
last winter by DR.. Noble on this sub
Ject, and approved of all that she had
to say about the question"
Mrs. H. W. Roby expressed herself
thus: Let the legislature stop fuss
primary bills long enough to decree
that the ubiquitous, red wrinkled.
bony, tendonous upper chests be
gracefully camouflaged with bit of
lace. Let them order the bow legs,
knock knees, spindle shanks, big feet
ard thick ankles SO abundantly dis
played on our city streets to be merci-
fully draped. Thus. much of the dam
ger to our susceptible young men
might be averted and much pain spar
ed the elderly observer On second
thought, 1 am unwilling that mere
man should tackle woman's dress. 1t
might result in something resembling
that climax of disfiguring ugliness
known as an army uniform
Morals Deeper Than Clothes.
Mrs. George W. Parkhurst ex-
pressed herself as approving short
fnn Shnrt-GkiTf
as being more sensible and sanitary
than one which dragged in the dust
But what I do object to-" she de-
clared, "is the way that some of the
dress. when they go to dances. l do
not blame the girls themselves, FOR
they naturally like pretty things and
see no harm in wearing dresses cut
as the modern dancing frocks are cut
1t is the mothers who are to blame.
feel that one need never become an
xious or excited about the girl who
has a good mother to give her counsel.
And, of course, it is the inside of the
girl that counts. not what she puts on
or takes off. Morals must go deeper
than clothes"
Mrs. Grinstead's Ideas.
Mrs Minnie Grinstead, member OF
say on the subject II am not con-
WINGED that woman's dress contrib
ute largely to the moral dereliction
of men The lack of mastery because
of a dearth of moral teaching of
many men, is the greater cause, to
which the foolish dress may contrib
ute.
There are two extremes of fash
ion, the one that makes plainness
and LONELINESS and quaintuess. q self
pride, and the other makes the wom-
an the peekaboo waist, the short
sleeve, the too short skirt, the too
much rouge. and the now too mar
row skirt, an object of too much no.
tice.
The happy medium dress, with
good style. arms sleeved, white stems
of women's being, not so much ex-
posed, neck and shoulders protected,
would add to the physical and spirit
uaI betterment of womenhood, and
help men to keep their moral stabil-
ity.
II have taught my daughter to be
plain in dress, dignified in manner.
quiet in voice.
The woman who follows the ultra
demand of Dame Fashion is likely to
be she of the 'rollicking tempera-
ment. and should be careful in de-
meanor. I think it fine that woman's
clubs are taking up the matter of
woman's dress. 1t brings an arrest
of thought that will result in much