The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-01
The Woman
He Married
A DISCUSSION ABOUT CLOTHES
BY JANE PHELPS

That's a stunning dress" Dick
SAID when on Sunday I put on my
renee gown to wear to church. TITS
all nonsense that women can't look
Wen unless they bankrupt a man for
clothes. That looks a million dollars
1 suppose it is because You have good
taste and know what to buy"
am glad you like it, I returned.
Wen knew Dick thought / had
purchased my dress with the $40 he
had given me. Hhe would expect me
10 get a waist out of it as well.
almost laughed aloud at his ignor-
anee. How easy it was for a woman
10 1901 man about clothes Yet
hated myself for the thought Dear
old Dick! 1 would be awfully glad
when 1 didn't have to, when 1 could
say openly: 81 bought this dress at
Felice's and it cost" whatever it did.
Really I should be ever so much
happier. 1t wasn't natural for me to
deceive; rather. it hadn't been when
l was girl at home. But in New
York one saw SO many beautiful
things, the women were so chic and
one couldn't dress without spending
money. So I had done things I would
not have dreamed of doing at home
And Dick would be no happier-if he
knew-than would when the neces-
sity for deceiving him was passed.
So I argued, stultifying my con-
science
There was one thing I could not do
without, would not-that was hand
some, stylish clothes. I tried to save
in other ways, pinching in buying for
my cookery; doing some of the heavy
work that Dick believed had a
woman do, so that might have a hat,
gloves or shoes like Mildred Stowell
wore.
never even considered that Mr.
Ctnr rrnIy toll
only a clerk. / went out with Mil
dred, and SO I wanted, perhaps nat
urally to look as well as she did.
1t is a great mistake-I found out
by bitter experience-to attempt to
keep up social relations with. people
| in different social and financial
strata. 1t costs to be in society, costs
| both money and time. To be just on
the fringe, to know one or two people
who have and can do so much more
than is possible for oneself. leads to all
sorts of things-temptation, trouble,
divorce. ct cetera. But like all fool
| ish young women, L saw nothing of
that then. To me it was most desir-
| able to be known as Mildred Stowelfs
| friend and intimate. l felt proud
when Clara Watson and Laura Bur
| bank acted jealous because 1 had
| to a bridge or a dinner at her nome.
1 recall once Laura said:
81 couldn't go if 1 were invited, so
! it is Just as we'll don't know them. "
| 'Why couldn't you go if you were
asked?" I inquired.
1T couldn't afford to return her in
! vitations, and I should feel under OBJ
legations, something I hate. Then L
couldn't afford the clothes to train
with her crowd. 1 don't see how you
| can"
| "You forget Dicks father left him
some money!" I explained rather
loftilv. I would have liked to say
more, but L was always afraid the
girls would say something pe1ore
Dick, and he would blurt out some
thing to embarrass me. So changed
the subject as 1 always did when
| money was talked of.
| But I had no. objection to discuss
ing clothes. I showed the girls my
/ new dress 7 had bought of Felice
They had seen it when I gave my din
ner for Dicks sister, but wanted to
examine it.
TT is perfectly love1y!" Laura en-
thused '.I'n bet you paid big price
for it,
we'll is such a wonderful customer
that they make special prices to her
and her friends Then, too, have all
the time 1 want to pay for them"
| "You mean that you run in debt
for clothes?" asked Laura in nor
|
Certainly. Why mott 1t is more
convenient at time to pay than at
i other times. Why not take advan-
tage of it?"
"Those smart places are. awfully
| particuIart I'll bet she would not
have trusted you five cents worth if
she didn't know Dicks father had left
him something"
: 81 am going to her once and have
gown If it's the last thing L ever do"
| declared Clara.
| 81 wish 1 could, but Tom and I
promised each other to save for
| home, and I couldn't be so extrava
CANT" Laura said. but a little sigh
| escaped her as she again looked at my
gown
(Tomorrow-Planning for the fu