Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-02

Irwin Cobb famous author and hu-
morist. who would have thought
it possible?
NI asst Summer the edict went forth for long
skirts and behold, skirts are still short! 1t is
such an unbelievable, unprecedented event in
the history of feminine fashion that I am still
fearful lest some morning may awake to md
> women with skirts sweeping the dust"
He lighted a big cigar and settled himself
on a comfortable divan to discuss milady's
skirts.
AT the beginning of the season." he con-
tinued, 1.-The betting odds were in favor OF
Paris. Knowing woman's notorious weakness
where sartOrial eccentricities are concerned,
might confess that had already resigned my
self to seeing women go mid-Victorian. was
sure they would never have the courage to re-
siSt the dictates of Paris. When in the Fall
few women began to be seen around town with
trailing skirts we males dutifully waited for
the rest of the feminine world TO follow suit
We had become accustomed to having women
bow their necks to the e-dressmakers in Paris
mo one could have been more startled than
the men when the first sounds OF revolt rum
bled about US. Personally. was sure it was
false alarm. Then few brave feminine lead
ers came forward to voice their protest at the
RIGHTEOUSNESS, the stupidity. the utter alb
surdity and the mpracticability Of the whole
movement. Women Immediately began TO divide
on the issue and the fashion battle was on in
earnest
GEOR a few months hemlines Jagged at
all lengths, but on the whole, they bravely
stuck to the knees. At this moment they give
every indication of remaining there and the
forecasts for Spring styles are for shorter skirts
While knees will fortunately no longer be ex-
hibtion points, ankles and points north will at
least not be clothed in mystery.
when one give some serious thought to the
aaatter. it is incredible to think that because
Paris wanted to help the manufacturers sell
more goods. they should attempt to get woman
to corset her figure again, cramp her body,
hamper her movements and make floor mop
of her skirt.
Paris to create such monstrositieS as buStleS,
mutton sleeves, hobble skirts, wasp waists and
trains in the days when women were essentially
creatures Of the home. Embroidering cushion
or playing q piece on the piano WAS ali the
strenuous activity in which they engaged Not
one woman in 20, at that time, was a wage
Garner or a devotee of sports. Since she did
not know what 1t meant to catch train for
business or WELD q golf club, she could shipper
around in cumbersome clothes without much
detriment to herself or any one else.
mot only did she swathe herself in volu-
minous skirts, but she wore at least four or five
ruffled petticoats and q whale-bone corset It
was q wonder that she could move at all. In
deed. there used to be considerable speculation
as to how she propelled herself. The result
was that gust of wind street corner was
liable to cause q panic Policemen were kept
busy handling the mob on windy days.
1T was absurd TO believe that women would
return to the mode of those days. The average
woman today Is either holding down job in
the business world or she Is active in sports.
Frequently she does both. The whole tempo
of life Is fast, and the quaint. old-fashioned
styles are no more In keeping with this tempo
than horse cars and kerosene lamps. They may
look attractive in picture, but no one would
want to use them
"One of the things that admire most about
the girl of today is her desire to do something
in the world. Even If she is a girl Of means,
she wants to engage in work Of some kind She
also takes advantage Of every opportunity to
enItghten herself, whether it is religion, art.
politics or morals with the result that she has
a broad knowledge of the world.
1T is hardly conceivable that the he-dress-
makers in Paris didn't think of subwayS and