The New York herald., 1920-12-26

hilosophers in this brief spell of holi-
day making and wonder why It is that
one must lose that first fine careless
rapture
Life smooths out ouf chances for
excitement and leaves us less venture
some because we have less curiosity
We become more content, possibly,
and less inclined TO look upon dis
couragements as tragedies. Oh yes.
youth has it's tragedies. even though
we look at them through the large end
Of the telescope.
These might be recalled reflections of
the chaperon. No older woman watches
her young dlsport themselves through
the Christmas gayety without thinking
much of /Ahe acute differences between
the girl and the woman.
The real thing that the older woman
finds herself thinking about. however.
Ia the clothes that the young must
wear. This is no problem that Is cut
by a single thought. 1t is a tangled
rope covered with knots that must be
disentangled
You -e~. youth takes its clothes quite
serious It is no longer relegated to
the wearing of muslin and sashes. No
one can 20 into a modern schoolroom
or play with escaped schoolgirls with
out realizing that they are the leaders.
not the followers. IN current fashions.
The designers OF the fashions Of the
hour take young girls as their ideal.
Does any one see clothes that are in
vented for the woman of fifty years
old? Has this type been IN the back
or the front Of the mind OF dressmak-
ers for eight years? Aren't all her
clothes adaptations and notifications
of what is invented for n slim young
thing who looks the world straight in
the face and considers It her victim. as
David looked at Goliath?
This Is n subject that brings out too
much peevishness to start on n Sunday
morning. The world Of women has
consented TO regard the schoolgirl as
the type which stands for all fashion.
The rest Is a makeshift.
She Knows what She Wants.
No wond er the youngster home for
her holidays puts herself forward as n
victor and speaks as one having au-
thority. The choice OF clothes Is spread
before her as the wares OF India are
thrown at the tourists IN the bazaars OF
Delhi. And this young thing has strong
ideas on what she wants 70 choose. she
Is less easily fooled than her mother
She looks with pure arrogance over the
heads OF those who try 70 sell her
clothes through the speech "this is the
fashion" the shibboleth OF the shops.
This IL the chance for the immature to
play at maturity, for the inexperienced
TO play at sophisticatlon. Tho school,
ROOM Is banishod The ballroom IS tho
place 20 learn lessons. Every young
girl realizes that during this fortnight
she has a chance 10 take hand IN that
game of all games for womon--Society.
She has the acute perception 20 know
that the right clothes are the founda-
ton stone Of building herself up into
an attractive and popular young lady.
She Is never so dull as to let this fact
escape her II she did not think of it
for herself 70 would be forced upon her,
probably pathetically. by the environ
nent In which she is thrown. Every
other girl around hor viii lay sire
upon clothes, and 20 the young any
sharp difference between them and their
companions which reacts TO their dis
advantage is one Of the tragedies.
Holidays Are Good Training.
Possibly this is why tho intensive
gayety OF the midwinter holidays was
Invented. It gives the chapce that
youth needs 10 fariiIiarize itself with the
habits. the mannerisms and the values