Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 January 1919 — GARMENTS MADE FROM DISCARDS [ARTICLE]

GARMENTS MADE FROM DISCARDS

Material Cut in Expenses Made by Reducing Amount of New Wearables Bought. CONSERVATION OF CLOTHING Home Demonstration Agents Busy Showing Women Throughout Country How to Make Use of CastOff Garments of All Kinds. “You must be the son of my old friend Edward Miller,” said the man back on a visit In his home town to the small boy he met on the street, “for you have his eyes and his mouth.” “Yes, and his pants, too,” piped up Eddie. This winter Eddie Miller won’t be alone when it comes to wearing father’s cast-off trousers cut down for his diminutive form. All over the country the Eddies and Johnnies are being clad in warm garments made fromdtscarded clothing which of late years has been given or thrown away, and the Susies and Marys display with pride the dress “mother made from her year-before-last skirt.” —Thrift has become the rule almost overnight. The old saw, “a penny saved is a penny earned,” has taken on fresh meaning to many in the past year. With those whose incomes are a thousand dollars or less economists state 40 to 60 per cent has had to go for food during these war years. Rents have'gone up too In many places, so that often the only place where a cut can be made in expenses is in the clothing column. Realizing that there are many who, anxious to save by utilizing old materials, are unable to do so because of lack of knowledge, the home demonstration agents under the extension service of the department of agriculture in connection with the state agricultural colleges have been holding classes in clothing conservation in all parts of the-country. This work has evoked,, marked response from women attending and some remarkable results have been attained. Fashion Shows Popular Events. Proud of their efforts and anxious io have their neighbors profit by their experience, the pioneers in this work have put on “fashion shows” where parades are staged In the manner of the big store parades at the opening of clothing seasons. However, the models in these fashion shows wear garments remodeled from old material. The campaign has been especially strong in lowa and Nebraska. Stores, trails, private homes and libraries have been utilized for,, the exhibits and as places In which to hold the “clinics.” To the “clinics" those who are interested bring garments and leftovers and discuss with the, expert In charge the best way of putting them to new uses, In Cerro Gordo county, lowa, an especially Interesting displayments was held In the Mason City library. One much-admired piece of work was a good-looking dress for a ten-year-old girl made from a three-year-old lightweight suit of her father. The little pleated skirt was pieced eight or nine times but the pleats hid the 'piecing. Expert Advice Given. In Lincoln. Neb., a room in the city hall was donated by the mayor for the use of the home demonstration agent and her assistants In this remodeling work. Here the old garments are brought and expert advice is given their owners on how bkst to make them over. Some noteworthy accompllsh&ehts Xn' have been

the uses which have been made of the doth flour sack. Once used for drying dishes, they now are made Into children’s dresses, undergarments, aprons, and other garments and attractive articles of wear are the result. The thrift of the French has always - been admired. This national characteristic has been attained in part by their straggle to pay the huge Indemnity exacted from them by the Germans after the Franco-Prussian' war. America’s opportunity now comes to cultivate this same virtue. To help reduce our war debt we must Increase our savings by individual sacrifice and economy.