Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 61, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 March 1910 — WOMEN’S PECULIAR FANCIES. [ARTICLE]

WOMEN’S PECULIAR FANCIES.

Vaaltr Ike Cam of Feraeaal Adorament, Soya Edward Rosa. Women are gradually becoming civilized. The process has been going on for many thousands of years and perhaps in a few more thousands the fair sex will leave off the ornamentation of savagery and appear in all their pristine glory. This is a digest of the belief of Prof. Edward A. Ross of the University of Wisconsin, who spoke before the St. Louis Society of Pedagogy in the Central High School auditorium on the “Curiosities and Follies of Fashion," says the St. Louis Republlo. In accounting for the peculiar fancies of women, evidenced In their personal adornment, Prof. Ross ran the entire gamut of styles of various peoples, from the naked, lip-punctured and ear-split specimens in obscure Islands to the present-day woman. Vanity, the desire to be more attractive than you really are, is the cause of personal ornamentation with all its variations of grotesque fashions, the professor said. Since time immemorial women vied with each other to be the chief attraction, especially to the male sex* , m ■ “Animals have never been known to ornament themselves, perhaps it is not a matter of brains which makes them

refrain; It doesn’t take much brains to be vain. The various changes in fashioa, the great balloon-like hoops, the bustle, the high hat, then the small compatt figure, hair close to the head, straight figure. All these modes illustrate the attempts of the parvenu to distinguish herself fi-om her poorer Bisters. The moment hoi polloi fall in line and the shop girl wears the styles adopted by the exclusive set the exclusive set at once changes the styles. She must be distinguished from the common herd. “Stylo Is the only asset of the newly rich,’* declared the speaker. “It costs money to adorn oneself In a variety of costumes. The common people must know the woman of wealth; realize she has money, and therefore must spsnd lavishly to prove—what? Nothing but that she has money. And then ths foolish poor girl must follow ths Instinct of ages of savagery; she most Imitate the exclusive set at any cost and when she does this, alas! the stylis change. The consciousness of being well dressed gives more peace than religion.” *■