The New York herald., 1921-05-15
Colorful Summer Clothes for the Juveniles Non
Lead the Seasons Fashions for Their Elder,
Skirts Caught Up Well Above
the Knees and Legs Are
Not Covered.
BY ANNE RITTENHOUsE.


saying that anything will do The
modern child voices its approval or
displeasure In no uncertain tones ana
mothers have learned to listen.
Children have an uncanny way OF
keeping in touch with what is peing
worn, for 1t is their occupation TO be
grouped with others and they have
tribal instincts. They bring home gos-
sip at an early age, they insist upon
being like their fellows and are in
more intimate touch with the world
than the stay-at-home parent.
They feel ridicule keenly and are
without philosophy to combat II and
much of ridicule that is the give and
take of Juvenile life is about man
ners and dress. It's about all the
young life knows. 1t is harsh and un-
sparing. 1t teaches the groups of
youngsters to keep within the customs
and costumes of the tribes to which
they belong.
when clothes swirl away from white
to colors. when hair grows longer. whea
socks replace stockings, when sashes
are shelved, when ruffles give way to
hens, the child is cognizant of the
than the mother.
She realizes that nothing is settled in
her tiny costumery. that 1t varies as
much as her mothers clothes do. and
she has a passionate pride in turning
and twisting to adjust herself to 1t.
Certain things are laid down for chill
dren this season. but the pasture land
where they may browse Is wide and
rich. More freedom is permitted, moro
ho tolx
Similarity in Their Clothes.
II is difficult to tell whether the
grown-ups take more from the nursery
than childhood takes from the big ward
robe. but there Is a striking similarity
between the clothes worn by all the
ages.
The delightful freedom that children
enjoy is the brevity of their clothes
which has q counterpart In adult fash
ions without the freedom. Criticism
does not rear it's head. Skirts are cut
off well above the knees and legs are
not covered. No attempt is made to
revive stockings merely because half
the young form now goes bare.
Never were children SO briefly clothed
but neither expense nor anxiety In
spared by this fashion.
Whatever latitude is allowed. the cer-
sonal output are the sraight line, the
infinitesimal skirt. the neglible sleeves
the avoidance of any restraining sash
or girdle. the use of colors and the
scarcity Of the entirely white frock.
France has persuaded us to accept
these things. We were quite sure in
our own minds that we would continue
TO dress our children as we had done,
and then we found that the very fash
ho1 81 1AI H.
out by the smart dressmakers had crept
In here over night without asking our
leave. They came. they were seen and
they conquered.
Those who are not aware of their
acceptance are shocked at their brevity
and feel quite virtuous In announcing
that their children will never. never
wear such clothes. / wonder? After
awhile. after common usage that which
has caused US alarm does not even
cause us excitement. This Is true of
every condition OF life. II familiarity
does not breed contempt. It at least
breeds indifference. and sometimes ap-
proval.
Tiny Frocks ColorfuI.
These tiny frocks have much allure.
They are as colorful as an old fashioned
garden. The monotony OF white Is ap-
parent now that the rainbow has flung
.ts arch over the cradle and the school
room.
These tiny frocks have much allure.
plain linen trimmed with narrow red
ribbon that makes us forget our stanch
adherence to neutrality. There are
chemise frocks OF red and white dotted
muslins with huge fichus that make us
wonder why we ever thought ruffles and
ahg n
There are blue and white striped linen
things for little boys--one could not de-
scribe these garments as dresses or trou-
sers--which make US want to clap the
hands In enjoyment.
1t IL rather a revolution, this new
method OF dressing children. and It does
not seem to an observer as X enough had
been made Of II. There arc many young
sters who have not yet been introduced
10 any Of these new clothes and yet they
would assuredly delight in them
Possibly the hot season will make the
idea more universally accepted and then
the fashion for all these brief and color
full garments will be established In the
widest sense.
The fabrics arc easily acquired The
shops are full of them. Many a mother
who would dearly like to wear these gay
and sprightly materials will have feel
ing of satisfaction when she can build
them into varied frocks for her little
girls. One can be ever SO little and stil
wear such garments. They begin In the
nursery. They do not wait until the
school days
The colored English prints are pleas
urably accepted. The French put them
on their children the last year Of the war
and they used much bright red OF the
kind that we now search for when adult
clothes are to be built. There are dozens
OF tiny flowered designs In these prints
which resemble the old fashioned calico
OF the Southern States. II, you may
know. was brought from England by the
early settlers, and England got II from
Calicut India, where II was ono OF the
oldest and most nationalized fabrics OF
the Orient.
IT has n great history. The South
erners used tho English slang word for
IL In the fashion of Queen Elizabeth's 5
time when Raleigh brought her the
American weed called tobacco, and an
other courtier, wishing TO ingratiate him
self, brought her this simply marked but
colorful cotton from India.
SO even when we think we are being
devotedly local I'm wearing the smartly
printed and once cheap fabric and
which served for the huge slave popula-
ton OF the Southern States we are only
being Oriental. Fashions repeat them
selves.
Checked GinRhnms Used.
The checked gtnghams are used also