Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-07-15
DEPARTMENT Of
AGRICULTURE IS
A BUSY BUREAU
Its Ramifications Extend in
Divers Directions; Aids in
Subjugation of High Cost
of Clothing.
(By The Associated rrcss.)

washington, July Ia flcle
Sans department of agriculture
does work of many interesting sort,
its ramifications extend in divers
directions, not solely included un-
der the subject of agriculture, and
one of the most helpful of these is
aiding in the subjugation of the
still high cost of clothing. A re-
cent publication of the department
declares that the business girl,
with a reasonable amount Of zeal
and talent, can use part Of her
spare time to such effect that she
can cut in half her clothes bill
In the first place, says the circu-
lar, it must be, granted that the
important way to reduce costs is to
eliminate as far as possible the
items Of labor and distribution. In
other words, the business girl
should make~her own clothing,
otherwise, unless she's wizard
at nosing out bargains, she stands
little chance of reducing her cloth
ing budget.
Can Always End Time.
The business girl may claim,
says Uncle Sam, that she has not
the time or energy left after a
strenuous days work: but a skilled
sewer who enjoys sewing, as an in
teresting and profitable change Of
occupation can always find time
and energy. In y this connection,
the department cites the case of a
girl In a government department,
who, with the aid of the circulars
and extension work of the depart
ment was very successful in keep
ing her wardrobe supplied at COM
paratively low cost, one-half in
fact what the same clothing would
have cost ready-made.
To begin with, she got depart
ment circular telling now to make
dress form by pasting layers of
gummed bundle wrapping paper
over tightly fitting vest on her
self as model When the paper
casing was cut off and fastened to-
gether, she had light, stiff and
perfect reproduction of her form.
SO 1t was not necessary to purchase
store figure.
The girl reported that her lat
est wardrobe cost her only sos
for clothing conservatively esti-
mated to be worth $40 at store
prices. With the aid of her paper
form she made, for $24.61, a tan
broadcloth winter coat with good
lining, such as she saw priced at
$50 In the shops. A blue voile
dress with slip, cost, including
trimming, $11.09. A tissue ging-
ham dress, with organdie for trim
ming and also hemstitching, cost
1888; with scraps and a remnant
she made another gingham dress
for exactly As cents.
How Girl Saved Money.
For SIG she bought materials to
make a pussy willow taffeta and
georgette crepe dress for social oc-
casions, which, she said, she could
not duplicate in quality at store
for less than $35. Her business
dress of serge and crepe de chine
would have been priced at $40 or
more X made of the good fabrics
she bought for $3.50. Her even
ing dress, also, of taffeta and sill
yer lace cost only s21. although 1t
was modelled after one seen at a
shop at a much higher price.
This wardrobe, augmented by
two dresses for which materials
were bought, brought the total up
to $10S.34, Is not elaborate, though
sufficient for the needs of the
wearer 1t was said, and, having a
variety Of clothing she was able
to attend many special functions
she otherwise would not have.
without the dress form, the girl
reported, It was doubtful If she
could have duplicated her achieve
ment In the time at her disposal;
but she not only had time left over
for other activities but also TO
make ten such forms for otLer
girls and to hold classes to teacl,
many others