Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 216, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 September 1913 — Acquiring Taste In Dresses [ARTICLE]

Acquiring Taste In Dresses

Barnaby poked his head inside the office and nodded timidly to the gM ai the desk. s "Is this the place where you sen patterns?** he asked “Yea,” said the girt. “What do you want?” “I want a pattern.” -What kind?" -Now you’ve got me. What kind would you want if wou were mef** ‘Who is it for?" “Mytwife.” ' -Is she young?" "Five years younger than me.” “That’s not answering my question.” - “Oh, isn’t it? I thought it was. Yes, she Je young. She" was 35 the 10th of last November." The girl looked Barnaby up and down with unblinking coolness. "Dear me,” she said, “how some folks do hold their own.” There was a pause. "It is hard work," ventured the girl presently, "for a man to select a becoming pattern tor a woman's dress. Why didn’t your wife come herself? “She has rheumatism, and can't get out of the house. You advertised a sale of $1.60 patterns for 13 cents for to-day only. She couldn’t aftord to let the bargain slip, so she asked me to get the pattern for her.” “She must have faith In your judgment” “She has reason to.” “‘I married her.” “That is no sign you can buy a pattern to make her dresses by. Most men can please a woman by wanting to marry her, but few can keep oo pleasing her by choosing her clothee afterward." “There may be something in that Still, I’ve got to get a pattern. What would you advise?” "It all depends upon your wife’s style. What kind of looking woman Is she?" “Stunning.”

“That is too indefinite. There are lots of stunning women in New York, and no two of them look alike. Now, if you oonld only point oat somebody " “I can. Her eyes are like—what is the color of your eyes, please?" “Gray.” “So they are, I hadn’t got (dose enough to get a good look at them before. My wife’s eyes' are gray. They’re like yours. They’ve got those same little purplish specks around the pupil that are found in only one pair of eyes In a million.” “It depends, too, upon the material. If she has a charmeuse satin grown—” “It is char —char —whatever you call it —satin. I heard her say so last night. Her nose is like yours, too; only yours turns up a little more at the end. And her hair Is that same sunny shade of brown. Her complexion is a little muddy now on account of the rheumatism, but when she is well her color is as fresh and delicate as yours.” — “The eyes, nose, hair, and complexion really have little to do "with the selection of a becoming pattern. They are not hard to fit. It is the figure that counts. If you could give me some idea of the height " “She’s tall.” “Here is a pattern that I think would suit her. The skirt la straight lines ” “Oh, that is one of those skimpy things with a bias belt around the ankles, Isn’t it? f think they’ are beastly ugly. I swore when I left the house that I wouldn’t get one of them.” “I have one of them on now. My friends think it rather becoming.” “Stand back a minute and let me see. Yes, that does look nloe. But, then, you would look charming in anything.” “Thank you. If you had only remembered to bring your wife’s measurements along——'* “I have them right here in my pocket Waist, 28; hips, 44. A-a-ahem! Seems to me that’s a little more robust ” The girl clasped her hands aA either side of her twenty-one-Lnch waist “Yes,” she said, “It Is rather, hot this style of dress Is very popular. Everybody wears It?” “Ail right I’ll take it What’s the use of having a wife If you can’t dress her In style?*' Eight hours later Burnaby sauntered into his own sitting room and laid the pattern on the table. “Oh. you dating! “ cried Mrs. Baroaby. “You did red eat and get me one of those tied-tn skirts after all. This Is a beautiful pattern. I always did say you had the best taste of any man In the world.” "Thanks,” ssM Bamaby. “I Hi fa* myself that I know a good thing when I see it” —New York Times.