115

A WORD WITH THE WOMEN

(Elia W Peattie)

The members of the Rev Mr. Savldge's church take much interest in the Rescue Home and recently visited the institution provided with the necessary and luxurious thing of life. Religious services were held, and a feeling of cordiality established between the inmates and the church people This is the sort of work that Mr. Savldge believes in, and the sort he encourages his people to do.

Those who wish to present the names of friends for membership for the Women's club must do so immediately. It will be necessary that the names of applicants be read Monday April 29 in order for membership to be attained by the annual meeting with which the club year begins May 27, and at which officers are elected.

The present fashion of wearing [gay?] silk waists with dark skirts is immensely convenient, and recommends itself to the economical woman, who can get up a theater costume, a dinner gown, a street dress and a dancing flick with the game skirt, and a judicious provision of appropriate waists. In short, it is possible at present to dress the really stylish on very little money. But the question which Rudyard Kipling put so pertinently, 'It is clever, but is it art?' arises to annoy the wearer of silk waists. Every woman who had studied the subject knows that she looks really dressed. To determine whether or not her attire is artistic she will do well to ask herself the question if she dressed as she would like to be if her portrait were to be painted. A portrait painter, she knows very well, would consider her style, her complexion, and manner in connection with her garments. He would desire her to present a symphonic effect. In order to attain this he would have the figures robed in one harmonious color from head to foot. He would not think of painting a portrait thus dividing the body. If he introduced two colors it would be by having them fall side by side in the drapery as an open coat might reveal a gown harmonious with it in color, or a court train might fall over a gown of contrasting tint, or a bright hat give accent to a somber costume. But two cut the figure sharply in two at the waist, or the point which fashionable somen have chosen to consider the waist, is certainly not artistic.

For two seasons now the waists have been threatening to go out of mode. They have not yet done so. On the contrary ladies send to the great modistes for designs dressmakers heap laces, flower ribbon and even jewels upon these pretty things, trifles they cannot be called since they frequently involve the expenditure of [$?0] to $100 and require six yards of material without the decoration. Chiffon, lace silk, satin magnificent broadages, bullion passementary and French flowers are lavished upon these devices. The waist has assumed the proportion of a fine art--and art is not only song, but large in this case as the sleeves will attest. There are as many ways of making the modern fancy waist as here are of painting a picture But these waists cannot be said to express the individuality of the wearer to any extent They express rather the fantasy of the dressmaker. The dressmaker in fact, is becoming a creature of imagination. She may almost be said to have a right to associate herself with the article if not with poets. The silk waist has lifted her out of the realm of artisans.