Evening star., 1920-06-13

| Surely this Is getting back to the
primitive condition when to cover the
body for protection and to fill the
stomach for nourlshment were the two
struggles for existence. In these times
we do not live in caves nor go about
with bludgeons. but we are limiting our
living quarters to the irreducibie mini
mum. and far too many revolvers are
carried in the world for the safety Of the
rest Of US.
A psychological review of this era
during and after the war may be OF
extraordinary interest to those VINO
come after US. but at the present hour
lit is interesting only In that 1t absoros
cur entire mentality. Our struggles TO
+ live are becoming battles, ana % ,nsse
battles are far more exhausting TO-DAY
than they were when the condition OF
! struggling for food and life was nor
NAL 1t is harder to live in the midst
of toppling surroundings that threaten
| to engulf than 1t Is to be in open spaces
which are our natural heritage.
There is no genuine cause for pes
simism, but there is necessity to
skeletonize our lives II we would grasp
happiness Women must insist upon
remembering the we'll being. the hap
piness. the sturdy growth in body and
morals during tho days in America when
| life was difficult. We must fix our minds
| on the idea that It Is not necessary to
have the luxuries that have become
seeming necessities. We must keep in
I, front Of our mental eyes the fact that
| for four years millions Of men lived in
the most primitive conditions without
genuine hurt to their minds or bodies.
Women cannot grapple with the stu
I'D toll n
| tions that have brought about this
toppling from the peak OF prosperity,
which we considered normal. But 1t is
the woman's part to insist that she must
be happy and economical and that she
must learn how to meet the new condf-
tions with sufficient cleverness and prove
that she is more than non-productive
consumer.
She at last has a genuine battle to
| fight. Easy living conditions have en-
quilted her for twenty years. but that
time is over. If she simply throws over
all the ballast and takes a new course
she will find safety from the storm
Each American woman is capable of
doing just that thing. She has sturdy
inheritance. The voice of millions Of
pioneers cry out to her to have courage
Everything behind her teaches the way
to happiness and success in the new
life, even II it be one of high prices and
scarcity of material Courageous ones
will face 1t. overcome it, and be all the
better for the struggle. The weak ones
may fall in their tracks, bemoaning the
conditions and wringing their hands be-
cause laZiness and luxury are not to be
their portion.
So important is the demand for this
readjustment that the American Red
Cross is about to start stupendous or
ganized movement for community work.
which will develop new garments out of
old ones and teach all women how to do
it. Those who have produced 1000. 600
garments for Europe during the war
believe that the prices in this country
demand their labor and ingenuity to
produce clothes for those who are barely
making living wage.
The cut in prices OF women's clothing
has been sensational. and thousands Of
women have stocked their closets with
clothes which they could not afford at
the prevailing. prices for the past two
breathing spell and gather together
their wits and plan a schedule of mex
pensive clothes that will leave them
something out Of their income for emer-
gencies.
No one need doubt the sincerity OF
this movement over America. It has
Influenced the rich more than the poor.
That might seem strange situation If
one had not studied the habits and Gus
toms of those who have been rich for a
generation. They are always the first
to refrain and the ones to refuse to pay
high prices for clothes and to exert the
cleverness which has made them rich
to find way to keep their money intact.
1t is not to these that the reformer ap-
peals: II IL to the middle class. and
especially the woman on a small salary
or an allowance from her husband.
The really reckless ones In America
-t.l-
aries. They are the ones who buy too
many clothes. and cheap clothes which
do not last. but which represent the
manufacturers' latest imitation Of a.
French boulevard fashion.
There has come about a rivalry be-
for the production of attractive and
stylish clothes at small prices. The new
idea Is that economy must be lovely, It
has been ugly. and therefore received
cold shoulder. From now on the Ameri-
can women have determined that 1t
There is no reason that 1t should not
depart from ugliness That departure
depends on the ambition Of the work.
Along with the desire to make economy
attractive % goes strong desire to boast
nificant signs OF the times
There will be a great deal Of boastinR
that is merely surface varnish. That
quality ruled many women during the
war and there was moro inconsistency
the movement 10 right When it is
fashionable to boast how little ono gives
for frock. to cry through q mexaphona
how much OF 1t was done at home, then
the world begins to follow the leaders.
1t Is this attitude of women that Will
bring down the prices moro than all Of
the sensational actions Of merchants
The pattern companies have met this
movement by selling patterns Of actu-
ally stylish and smart frocks What
priced houses Is now copied on paper
although simplifed to meet the de-.
mand Of the home dressmaker. High
priced materials are being avoided by
those who are intent upon this scheme
of economy. They are glorifyinR the
use of commonplace fabrics
A search through the shops for these
is made by the woman who goes with
the clever eye and the light purse
Making. over clothes has become a
become an obsession after the coun-
trywide movement of the American
Red Cross begins.
To aid this movement those who sell
dyes have perfected their fluids and
offer them at reasonable prices in
every center in America. This not only
aldS the ALTERATION OF ola clothes, but
it is of assistance in the building Of
new clothes. A woman buys piece of
Turkish toweling or unbleached mus
lin or aviator's linen and dips it into
dye to suit her inclination.
The steady movement into popular
ity of the different toweiing fabrics.
such as the rough weave that is used
in the bathroom and the glazed plafi
kind that is used for the roller in the
kitchen, has brought into wemen's
oy-1r r0hA 10 n p tim -
that cost little money and give an ad-
mirable effect,