Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 April 1918 — NEW CLOTHES AND ECONOMY [ARTICLE]

NEW CLOTHES AND ECONOMY

Gossip as to Styles, Conversation and War Provides Problems Which Have Not Been Solved. Gathering up all the reins of discussion into one hand, it would seem that the spring will have a variety of problems, mostly Interesting. The clothes from France demand alteration or else new purchases. One side of patriotism demands that women spend what they can afford so that others may live; another sort of patriotism believes in saving every cent to give to war relief work; and others believe in being merely fashionable and following the trend of their especial set or neighborhood. The merchants are arguing, the dressmakers are talking, the publicists are speaking about clothes; the council of defense is advising this way and that; bodies of women are coming out with new creeds concerning conversation and standardization of clothes and so there’s a merry, merry to do about it all. News and gossip and discussion of clothes whistle down every wind. It is an interesting time not only for the merchants, but for the public.