davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1941-11-22
Bv Helen TOpf

against this great American insti-
tuition. Women in general, career
girls in particular, have acquired
such a tender affection for their
adaptable, versatile basic dresses
that they consider a huge ward
robe unnecessary, and that seems
to be bad for business. They Rave
found-and we're with 'em to the
end-that a good dress Of fine
material and f1attering lines can
assume all sorts of personalities.
1t can be a simple, unadorned
frock for the ONCE or made into a
dressy date frock by means OF a
few "hand-is-quicker- than-the-
eve" changes of accessories. Some
of the basic dresses, particularly
In pastel woods, become casual,
country clothes by the addition OF
wool jenkins, cardigan jackets or
sports belts. It's all in knowing
how, and she Of the moderate
budget has found out.
Now don't think that we're ad-
vising you to have only one dress
in your wardrobe, but we do say
that the basic dress is more I'M
portant to the average girl than
a number of highly styled mod
els of which she and her friends
quickly tire. It's just the dlf-
ference between hpstick and false
eyelashes; you'd hate to live with
out the former, but you use the
latter only on special occasions,
and not too frequently.
Time was, of course, when the
basic dress was inevitably black
crepe, but there is a new school OF
thought which sees the pastel
wool frock as a perfect basic.
We've mentioned that it's a pos
sibility for country wear, and it's
a natural for Office. Worn with
a not-too-fussy hat, your favorlte
spectator pumps and a tailored
bag, topped with a casual coat
and adorned with the informal
type Of jewelry, it's spirit-ooost-
er around the Office. For after-hVe
occasions, try 1t with q chin
lifter--some bit Of frilly lace at
the neckline, matched perhaps
with a delightfully."- ridiculous little
mui. The wool frock also takes
beautifully to combinations with
fur on these more important oc-
casions. Try 1t with a gay fur-
trimmed hat and a muf1, or a
short fur jacket. Use velvet, too'
in hat and muff sets, or in hat
and glove harmony.
You can do wonderful things
lust with color to change the ap-
pearance of your basic wool. Try
one of the soft blue shades ana
slick it up with wine accessories
q funny little crocheted hat or a
Evening star., 1941-11-22

several friends congenial enough
so that we decide to take a larger
apartment together. This brings
other items into consideration
such as laundry, food, cooking,
entertaining and planning Of in
teriors so that we can work, live
and play happily as one Of Wash
ington's career women.
How to do" and what to do"
to get good effects with a very
little money; where to shop in
town whose stores are strange
make another new adventure.
The services the stores may offer
in planning and budgeting for
the business woman are all new
avenues of interest which open
up to the newcomer in the first
few weeks of establishing a home
In the Nations Capital.
Each week this column will dis
cuss some phase of home decora-
ton and furnishing at minimum
cost, especially for the benefit OF
those of you who live in single
rooms or small apartments. It is
entirely possible to achieve love-
illness and practicability with an
amazingly small cash outlay.
Watch for our suggestions along
these lines!
Evening star., 1941-11-22

If you were a woman with
nothing better to do, you might
we'll map out a iife's work just
gathering up the thousands, nay
millions, of words that have been
written about the little basic
dress What's more, If you put
them all together they'd spell
theme that is just as important
TO fashion as any single item
could be. Deprive fashion writ
er of permission to recommend
the basic dress and you leave her
a broken woman, founderlng
around in q sea of new trends,
none of which is as wearable as
the basic dress.
All of this leads up, eventually.
to the fact that dress manufac-
turers now are campaigning
Evening star., 1941-11-22
One Room, Share Bath
1t Doesn't Cost q Fortune to Make 1t H0meHke

and saving money at the same
time.
Next we find that most of the
rooms are small and more or
less uninteresting. Having the
barest standard equipment Of
chest, bed and chair, they are
pretty far from our first idea of
q room with q view over the city
or a friendly fireplace. They
have one asset, however, they
bring to the surface every home
making instinct latent in woman
since the day Mrs. Bone Digger
hung a leopard skin over the
opening in her cave wall Ito
soften its harsh edge" and keep
out the breeze. We decide to take
q certain shoe box" because it
fits the budget and is near a bus
which will take us within a block
of where we work. We will do
great things to it to transform 1t
into something near the hearts
desire"
With a home decided on, sud-
denly we seem to be part of the
city. 1t may not be the ideal
thing, but it is a beginning. As
we get acquainted there may be
Evening star., 1941-11-22
Cards for 1871
Too innovations Seen This Year.
Bv frankie Kuhn

One Of the things that becomes
more enjoyable with each sue
ceeding pre-Christmas rush is
the selection Of our greetings Of
the season" No longer must we
wade through stacks and stacks
Of books IN q frantic effort to
md Just one little card that We
like well enough to order; we
still scramble through the books,
but now it is with q different pur-
pose. 1t is to decide which card
we are going to choose out Of
the many we would like to have.
People who do not have their
own printed cards have a much
freer range and have more oppor-
tunities for variation.
As in every field of catering to
the public, greeting card con-
Germs are bending over backward
in order to give the people what
they want in the way they want
1t. One collection of greetings
is delightful and gay in its mod
ern treatment of traditional hol-
iday themes. The entire group
is not the assembled work of the
average card painter" but is
done by foremost contemporary
American illustrators, artists and
sculptors. However, in their
freshness and novelty; the cards
lose nothing of the true spirit OF
Christmas; it is simply translat-
ed into the language of our mod
ern world.
Christmas cards take on a new
and brighter significance by in
cooperating the work of these
many world famous artists, rep
resenting every section of this
country and many schools OF
modern art who have contributed
by portraying all phases of our
way OF living. This new idea in
Christmas greetings goes beyond
the ordinary. These cards are
reproductions of fine paintings
and eneravings, and by virtue OF
this fact, instead of being des-
tined for the wastebasket they
will remain in the home from
the moment they are taken from
the mailbox.
On the lighter and more
frivolous side also are cards that
have been done by nationally
known cartoonists. In this
group there is gaiety and
brightness that adds a new flavor
to the field. Sometimes ironical
and a touch satirical, these fam
ciful illustrations poke fun at
the little man" or bolster his
ego by praising him. The tradl-
tional themes receive a treatment
that-is happy, imaginative, and
often downright funny when di-
rected by the pens and brushes
Evening star., 1941-11-22

OF excellent cartoonists and
illustrators.
The introduction Of two inno-
vations this year has enhanced
the collection. Not only enlarg-
ing the original group, but by
adding one entirely new type OF
greeting, they offer q still wider
scope and a greater selection to
the consumer.
One line Is sponsored by Amer.
lean sculptors, with three di-
mensional" reproductions OF
lovely modelings being used as
greeting cards for the first time
in this collection. They. repre-
sent a new field Of technique
and subject matter, including in
their scope themes Of home life
and animal subjects as well as
excellent sculptural conceptions
of the religious medium.
The second new presentation
serves the dual purpose OF gilt
and greeting. 1t is a collection OF
small books, each with a char
acteristic flavor of its own. This
new form of greeting goes be-
yond the ordinary type OF Christ
mas card, even when the latter
is done in the finest style OBJ
tainable, as it carries a fuller
and more lasting message to the
recipient. The outstanding fea-
ture Of these books is Christmas
as mirrored by modern American
music, literature and arts. Each
has its own individual quality
and subject matter, a factor
which makes it possible to please
all types of people, and each has
its own mailing carton for the
elimination of unnecessary and
troublesome wrapping.
Evening star., 1941-11-22

It was early morning-early,
that is, by the standards Of those
who don't have to struggle to get
their cars on that parking lot
opposite the Commerce Depart
ment. Well say that it was about
8 o'clock when she alighted from
her car and started toward the
curb to cross busy Fourteenth
street. She was private secre-
tary and not due at work for an
other hour, but you've got to get
down early if you want a park
ing space, even on a lot.
Starting across the street, she
met him. He was about II,
neatly dressed and looking very
serious. Help va across the
street, lady?" he asked. why.
thank YOU" she answered, that
would be very nice indeed" So,
they started across the street, he
with his hand on her arm, cau-
tioning her to watch out for the
traffic. Once on the other side,
she became curious, for this OBJ
viously was no poor little beggar.
What are you doing downtown
so early in the morning." she
asked.
I'm looking for a robber."
"A robber?"
yep, va see I wanna be G.
Man, so I gotta catch robber.
Now, I'd like to find one robbing
q bank-then I'd be sure to be a
G-Man, but almost any robber
will do"
BY this time more puzzled than
amused, the secretary asked, 1T
you're looking for bank robbers,
then, why not 60 up in the bank
Evening star., 1941-11-22

Ever since we mortgaged the
town house and gave our chauf-
feur Murgatroyd back to the
finance company, our daily ex-
istence has pulled itself out OF its
little, comfortable rut. We, it
must be shyly admitted, have
been seeing life as it is lived in
the more modest way, particu-
larly in regard to the problem Of
tracking down meals at negligible
cost.
Taken all in all, the eating out
situation is not bad, not bad at
all. You can get a good dinner
around town at q tariff that
doesn't upset next weeks budget,
and, as in the newspaper busi-
ness, you meet such interesting
people. Unfortunately for the
record, however, some Of the in
tereSt1ng people nave strange
manners, that is, when the man
ners exist at all.
Now remember that Washing
ton in its current state Is some-
thing Of q crowded city. Kestau-
rants, especially the less gold
plated ones, are likely to be
jammed after ofnce hours. Often
you have to wait in line-and
that is where the first complica-
ton rears its flendish head.
Waiting lines are composed Of
three groups: The good folk who
wait patiently and uncomplain-
ingly for their turn at . table
(rare); the people who know the
hostess and expect immediate
service (frequent). and finally,
Evening star., 1941-11-22


calot with flowers perched on the
front and the same flowers re-
peated at the neckline of your
dress. Buy a soft green dress and
a flock o. inexpensive and easily
changed accessories in gold or
brown or darker green.
Learn to be tricky-not ridic-
ulously fussy but aware of the
conversation value" of unusual
ideas. A tiny jeWeled butterfly
perched on the back of a glove,
sentimental red rose in the mid
die of q pouchy velvet muff, a
trio Of amusing pins across a
severe neckline-these are things
that make the simple frock so
wonderfully versatile.
Evening star., 1941-11-22
Bv Beth Campbell

port herself. That happened TO
be a statistical report listing all
the defense contracts Of the
Army, Navy and other Govern
ment defense Offices, which was
sent to o. E. NJ. this year. In July
Virginia was sent along with it,
but machinery already had been
set up to handle the report. so
she went to work for James
Brubaker, chief of correspond
ence and distribution in the o. E.
M. information division.
One of her jobs there was han
ding all the telephone calls,
local and long distance, concern
ing the aluminium campaign. At
the Office of Government Re-
ports, she had done q bibleog-
raphy of all defense publications
put out by the Government. o.
E. M. had her do the same thing
there in more detail.
Il used to get some eorking
letters to handle" she laughed.
Some one had heard we had
gotten out a series of posters on
sabotage. We hadn't, but
found it had been done. by a
private artist in Pittsburgh. Some
one else would think too much
valuable defense information was
being given out and I would have
to explain how democracy
works"
Late in August Virginia got
her break. She was asked to
do vacation relief for the sec
retary of William Phillips, chief
of the publications section which
handles art work. For a year
she had been seeing people about
getting an art job. In February
she had passed the civil service
exam for artist t-designer. When
Phillips regular secretary came
back, Virginia apparently had
convinced the publications Sec
ton that she had talent.
"They decided to keep me and
break me in and make an artist
of me-" she exuited. I'm doing
what I've always wanted to do
and if I can make good-well,
Just now I'm only making 81 $40
and there's room to go up. See
the bombs I've been drawing
q very CORY little pastime, but
fun!"
Evening star., 1941-11-22

powder puff, q half-used lipstick
and a comb-all of which she
proceeds to use with great gusto,
much flying about Of powder and
dabbing of ipstick stained fingers
on clean napkins.
BY this time, If you have any
appetite left, you start on your
entree, but she, your little friend
and companion, has felt the need
of another cup of coffee. She
looks up; no waitress in sight.
She yells Hey" at a couple OF
them with no success. Finally,
she beats steadily and not too
rhythmically on the water glass.
At last she calls the hostess and
complains. BY this time you feel
the first symptoms of indigestion.
When her coffee arrives-lt
does not, you fear, contain
arsenic-she spies friend, waves
frantically and is rewarded CD
with his appearance at your table.
From then on the conversation is
animated, elbows are plunged
into your neck, you duck your
head into the salad to keep from
having your hat knocked of and
should you dare ask for the sugar,
you are met with q glare, and
then completely ignored.
AS your happy little companion
starts on her fifth cigarette, hav-
ing finished her meal hours ago,
you make your escape, feeling
beaten and battered and a little
discouraged with the manners, or
lack of them, that some people
evidence. Nothing personal, you
understand.
Evening star., 1941-11-22
Line, Good Fit Essential to Basic Dress
May Be Made to Suit Any Occasion by Varying accessories

One warning, however: Be
quite sure that your dress. basic
or otherwise. is kept in the best
possible condition. That means
it's to be carefully hung up at
night, that it's to receive frequent
brushings and trips to the clean
er and that hens are not to be
allowed to rip out or seams to
pop open.
No. ma am, nothing is going to
happen to that basic dress. Cam
paign and scream all they like,
the manufacturer can't dispute
the variability and usefulness Of
the fashion which has become as
thoroughly American as hot dogs
and streamlined streetcars.
Evening star., 1941-11-22

"Fairy tales do come true
even in Government service. See
that tall, stunning blond work.
ing over sketches of bombs at a
drawing board in the pubhca-
tions office? She's proof. Ask
her"
With that, an official at the
Office of Emergency Management
pointed out Virginia Bennett
Moore. She confirmed his story,
adding that her luck proves
more than anything else that
people are kind"
Three years ago, Virginia
knew nothing about Govern
ment service, or being a secre-
tary, or anything" Since then
she has handled a Government
secretarial job successfully and a
few weeks ago got "a toehold,
anyway" in the career she had
dreamed about and prepared her
self for-art. At the same time
she has attended George Wash
ington University, collected a
Phi Beta Kappa key, won a
couple of tennis championships,
piloted the Zeta Tau Alpha
Sorority and learned to come
about" in a sail boat. And, there
is a young man." she admits.
Virginia, at %, is the kind Of
a girl you turn to look at. Five
feet seven and a half. Weighs
1872. Blue eyes. Pulls her blond
hair up on top of her head with
amber combs. Wears tailored
suits without losing an ounce of
feminity.
She left her native Henderson,
KY, a town of $4,000, to attend
George Washington University.
After two years, she found she
had to get a job. That was June,
1898, and the job was in the Ma
tional Emergency Council. She
brushed up on her shorthand and
became secretary to Lee Poe Hart,
who handled news, films and
radio for the state information
service.
When the functions and per-
sonnel of N. E. c. were transferred
to the Office of Government Re-
ports, Virginia began to assume
more responsibility. She took
care Of the mailing list, corre-
spondence, ct cetera, for one re-
Evening star., 1941-11-22

For purposes Of Identification,
let's say you finally have to share
q table with another lady. BY
this time you're too ravenous to
care about exclusive aspects, but
the diner already seated has had
her meal-and she is inclined to
be well fed, but not happy-or
overeager for your company.
You say, not too meekly, 'Dya
mind If I sit here?" and are met
with . blank stare and, possibly.
Evening star., 1941-11-22

RADIO asking if we would accept
q position in Washington seemed
very personal-almost as though
there would be some one at the
station TO meet us. So we start
out rather forlornly on our first
big adventure, trying to find our
tiny place to work in the maze
Of Government buildings, and our
~shoe-box" home in a city that
Evening star., 1941-11-22

those human horrors who arrive
late and push, edge, nudge and
thrust their way through the
waiting throng like 50 many foot
ball tackles (perpetuaD. We say
1t isn't fair. In fact, we protest
the rudeness of diners who have
no consideration for others
who've been there for what
seems like hours. And we don't
care how hungry the late-comers
may be.
Evening star., 1941-11-22
By Lerore

an undecided inclination of the
head that could mean anything.
So, you sit down, showing away
your companions salad plate and
butter dish and, after several
futile attempts to call the
waitress, you order. Then, lack
ing the comfort of an evening
paper or the latest edition of
Smart Patter" you glance about
the room, finally coming back to
your friend across the table.
Evening star., 1941-11-22
By Morearef N0weH

at first seems to have no place
for us 10 live, and still have
enough money left 70 that We
can eat.
But there are agencies to help
Us over the first hurdles. begin
ming right at Union Station and
the bus terminal. That fine old
Evening star., 1941-11-22

But what is thisf She obviously
has lost grandmother's will some
where in the depths Of that
cavernous purse. Silk-clad legs
linked firmly around the legs of
the chair, cigarette smoke blow
ing gayly into your consomme,
she is roofing in the pocketbook.
All, a happy expression; she's
found it and the old homestead
is saved. But not at all. All she
has found Is . slightly soiled
Evening star., 1941-11-22

q. II you could afford to pur-
chase only one item to make =
very tiny rented room more at
tractive, what would 1t be? My
room is 101a by 9 feet. 1t has
small window, a couch bed, one
chair, q chest of drawers with q
mirror, a lamp and picture. All
the necessities are there, but 1t Is
% dull. Walls are painted yellow.
A. A gay cover for your sofa
bed-s3e5 invested In this will
decorate the largest area In the
room other than the floor and
walls, which are not yours to
decorate.
Q. I live In a bed-sitting room
where the beds are nicely cam.
ouffaged with tailored slip cov-
ers and bolster backs, so that !
don't worry about the rooms
appearance when I entertain.
But what stumps me is the food
angle. We tenants are not per-
mftted to do any cooking and
even electric kettles and toasters
are taboo. I like to have people
IN for a cup OF tea occasionally,
but I don't know how to manage
Il.
A. We suggest, if your lard
lady refuses to allow you an elec-
tric tea kettle, that you make a
deal with her to supply you with
. thermos bottle of hot water
when you are expecting guests.
This you can use to brew tea in
any kind of a pretty tea pot. You
supply the thermos bottle, OF
course. Then you could have one
of the many concerns that deliver
home cooked" foods here IN
town send you few dainty
sandwiches, and some simple cup
cakes. These are not expensive,
and will arrive fresh and appe-
thing.
II X
g. am on my feet almost all
Of the day but can't stand the
way very flat-heeled shoes look
on me. What do you suggest as
an alternative?
A. Have a look at some Of the
newest, lower-heeled models
Evening star., 1941-11-22
Edited BY Betsy CasweH

which have all the dash of high
heeled ones without the tire
some strain. Once upon q time
these heels might have been
called Cuban" but although
they are about that height, they
have new treatments Of leather,
color and shape that make them
very smart and new looking. Low
heels are important in fashion
this year. so you should have no
trouble in finding good-looking
ones in both sport and dressy
styles.
@. A boy from my home town,
who is q good friend OF mine, Is
leaving shortly for Army duty
and would like to present him
with gift. I would like some
thing nice, but cannot afford to
spend a great amount on 1t.
Hope you can help me with this
situation.
A. Games such as cribbage,
dominos and checkers are small,
compact and require a minimum
of space in a bag and will afford
him hours of fun. If you prefer
q more serious gift there is q
small record-keeping book, COW
cred in leather which has the
United States seal embossed in
gold and contains places for per-
sonal data and service records.
such as rank, promotions, pay,
where fulough is spent and
transfers. There are also spaces
for keeping accounts Of his var
ious 'buddies."
@. I am interested In taking
nature hikes but I am q new
conner to Washington. and since
I am not well-acquainted with
the parks in and surrounding the
city I would like to know If there
is any way I might join some
group organized for such . pur-
pose?
A. The National Park Service
under the Department Of the In
terror conducts q series Of nature
outings which any one may join.
Evening star., 1941-11-22
Come On, Tell Us All

H. newcomers to Washington haze
pusse along pdr'ons lines the
ready and help Just address question
Woans Page OF The Evening STAR and H be this
colxnn quickly
stamped addressed envelope your request No
sDM eppenr
Evening star., 1941-07-27
Undsr-Covsr Aids

30 MUCH for lingerie. Now, let's
take look at under-cover auxiliaries
with an eye to boning up on what's
new in those. If your dress shields
are misfts and put wings in the wrong
places, custom-make your own out
of oil-silk and make them conform
to caprices of the arm-eyes. Or settle
for shields on bra-gamp, very much
like the pantie waist you used to wear,
or for shields on shoulder straps, such
as little brother uses to hitch up his
shorts.
What about garters? If you have
any relics of the past - buttons and
buckles that look knobby from the
outside - you can replace these with
invisible grip tabs. These little enam-
eled grippers. free of conspicuous
hardware, go in and under the folds
of your stockings and give an efficient
performance
Evening star., 1941-07-27
INVISIBLE -AND IT SHOULD BE!

or the stand-out taffetas that make
your clothes look bit more full.
Where a bracelet sized waist is
one of your major prides and you
want to play it up to make other teeth
gnash, unsheathe your middle by
wearing a bra and a petticoat. Petit
coats run the gamut from demure
Victorian muslins with ribbon-run
fiounces to gay. cracking taffeta, as
puffy with ruffles as rumba-dancer's
skirt.