The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-02-24
WILL YUM YUM
DISCARD KIMONA?
PROBABLY IN ALL THE WORLD
THERE is NO MORE CHARMING
FIGURE THAN THE JAPANESE
MAID IN NIPPON DRESS.

WASHINGTON, D. ACCORDING
TO recent news dispatches Japanese
women are seeking a new dress bet
ter suited to modern life than the
graceful kimono. American machine
made clothes are being considered to
supplant the native dress of the wo-
men of Japan.
In this connection a bulletin issued
by the Washington, D. c., headquar-
tiers of the National Geographic
Society says:
Probably in all the world there is
no more charming figure than the
Japanese maiden with tinted parasol,
pigeon-toeing along in the attract
i've costume of her race. Through
out the history of japanese art there
have been changes of women's dress,
but wasp waists, balloon sleeves,
hoop skirts and pantalettes have not
been among the fashionable features.
The same graceful lines of the kimo-
ma have prevailed in spite of minor
changes, which are as patent to the
japanese woman as is the difference
between Hudson seal and plush to an
American lady of fashion.
Delightful Figure.
"Seen at a distance of twenty
yards, walking in the shade of the
majestic cryptomerias of Nikko or
the bamboo of the byways, the dim
inutive japanese lady, with her bright
parasol and touch of color showing
at the border of her outer kimona,
is an eye-delighting figure. She en-
bodies grace and coquettish charm.
Besides such one, if observed from
a distance, the empress, gowned ii
Paris styles and wearing an enor-
NOUS beauty plumed foreign hat at
her semi-annual garden parties,
seems sorry figure. Few indeed are
the japanese men who gain dignity
in a frock coat and silk hat, but
fewer still are the japanese women
who add to their charm by assum-
ing foreign dress.
The japanese feminine costume is
made up in layer after layer of lovely
silks of the brightest hues, all dis
creetly hidden under an outer
kimona of dark gray or black. Nor
are the kimonas at all standard in
pattern. Sleeve length, fullness and
a score or more subtle variations
cry aloud the extreme chic of the
best dresses.
'To the peasant woman these
changes make little difference. Her
main demands are two-convenience
and durability. For the field worker
in a hot, damp climate one requi-
&c hn 1y1rnnno &c fhof tho
portion can be slipped off and tuck
ed under the belt on hot days, and
for the factory worker it is necessary
that that long, dangling sleeves be
girded back, out of the way of tools
and gears. For durability the peas
ant kimona is unexcelled. 1t is so
constructed that the various pieces
can be fitted together In different
ways so that what is the bottom edge
can after the next washing be basted
I'D and down the back, where it can
rest from heavy wear until the next
washing. For each washing the XII
monas are ripped apart and the diff
ferent pieces are then dried and
smoothed by spreading them, while
wet. on a board in the sun. No cleo
trio iron is necessary and the parts
are quickly basted together to serve
until the next washing day. In this
way the materials last for a long
time.
Silks Are Finest.
"For the lady of fashion, however,
no such easy methods of dressmak-
ing are possible. The finest crepes
and silks are used, and so carefully
are the patterns woven that the
slightest deviation from the measure
ments for which the patterns were
designed may subject the wearer to
sidelong chances from her rivals. Far