The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-16
Decoratiue Utility Seen By Margery Wells
 In Portuguese Hats
By IMAGERY WELLS

You may almost think that my eyes were blinded with the strangeness of 8 new land. but 1t Is true that in Portugal the women still carry around large baskets upon their heads They are high baskets or flat ones. as the case may be, and some of them are filled with pota- toes, while the flat ones are spread with fish that hang. nonchalantiy over the edges, Tapping their tails about in the eyes of their bearers. The popular millinery is built to &C., commodate the load, whatever it may be. Tho little black sailor sort of hats sit high up on the heads and are provided with thick roll of goods on their tops so that the baskets may rest easily upon the padding. But do the ladies neglect to add flutter of color and dash of flattery to their faces just be- cause they are engaged in this par ticular sort of useful work in the world? Not at all! Under the hats they arrange squares of colored silks 50 that they fall down about their heads and over their shoulders, and these scarf-like affairs can be changed off and on according to mood and time of day, while the busy work of the world goes on above them. And such colors! Yel- lows and reds they wear fearlessly, and they mix magenta with green on ths slightest provocation.
 ITALIAN vs. AMERICAN CHILD
 Perhaps the American little girl on the big ocean liner had better time than the Italian miss of the same age, but the former one made more noise about it--that much Is certain. They call 1t a difference in bringing up. Temperament may have something to do with 1t. But at any rate. in this actual conjunction of the two nationalities of children, the Italian one came out with flying honors when 1t came to general be- havior, and she didn't look cowed or crushed from discipline either. She didn't seem to consider 1t necessary to disturb every one within radius of the ships length every time she as the American child did, and when she was asked to do something she did it sweetly and without argu- ment. Oh, yes; 1t was very old fash toned. extremely antique, but 1t was restful and lovely to behold. And little lady had everything her own way in the end, for every ono about wanted to do things for her and help her have good time, while Miss America was left to ferret things out for herself more or less.
 
 of course. but 1t was interesting to see the two together.
 THE ABUSE OF SPORTS CLOTHES
 In travelling about one finds that the really well-dressed sport girl Is about as rare a thing as one could hope to discover. A sense of propor- ton and the fitness of things seems to leave the female mind once 1t begins on the problem of sports clothes, and this Is true with very few exceptions when one gets far from New York, where these things are usually done, moro or less, ac- cording to accepted forms. For in stance, you see dress hats with sports. suits more often than not You are sure to be confronted with knickers where you least expect them and where tho exigencies Of the case would seem to demand something quito different in the way of costume. A long lace veil with a tweed suit is something that Is not at all rare and a chiffon -beruffled blouse underneath sweater seems to be considered without undue emotion. Yet these things are all wrong and one would think that the ordinary common sense possessed by every woman would initiate against them. On the other hand, those who wear these disorganized combine tions are seemingly blissfully ignorant of any crime committed. and they take their peaceful ways as though they were quite properly fitted out.
 TRAVELLING HER LIFE'S WORK
 I met a woman travelling in Spain. She had been doing it for year yes, 40 years. for she was no longer in her teens. This was all she did back in America in the summer for few months and in the fall abroad again. She had mapped out this life for herself and had stuck to 1t consistently. It never occurred to her that any other mode of living was at all possible--and perhaps 1t wasn't for her. She had small but comfortable means and this was her way of disposing of the income. As you may imagine, she was an inter esting character at the age of 60 or more. She knew every church, every castle, every carving. every person of not, and every place of interest in Europe. But to an active Ameri- can it did seem a strange mode of liv- ing. d completely novel idea. She had much to say about how. American women wasted their time and lived small lives, and I could only listen and wonder which of us waS>com- ing anywhere near the truth. >A HINT FROM THE AFRICANS
 African ladies go shopping, to mar ket. about their daily business in town carrying large and comprehen- sive bags. Some of them are made of basketry in plain 'colors or dyed