Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 89, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 February 1917 — A QUESTION OF DRESS [ARTICLE]

A QUESTION OF DRESS

By EARL REED SILVERS.

“I wish I could take you over to the horse show in New York tomorrow night/’ said Jim Chambers, speaking with the frankness of an engaged young/ man to his worshiping fiancee. “But I can’t. I’m dead broke.” Edythe Merritt sighed resignedly. “If you only could,” she suggested, “I would wear my green taffeta.” “Well, why not wear it to the club tonight?” " - » / “I can’t; it’s an afternoon dress.” “What’s it like?” ’ / ' Edythe manifested a slight degree of interest. “I’ll let you see a pictiire of it if you care to,” she said rising. “It’s Tn the April Ladies’ Star.” ‘ “Here it is,” explained Edythe, opening the magazine and indicating one of three young ladies representing the very latest of spring styles. “And — well, isn’t that strange?” “Isn’t what strange?” . j “Why bn this very page is the pattern for Doris Howard’s evening dress.” Jim’s eyes opened wide. A picture of the country club bazaar as his sister hat described it flashed before him, “Which one?” he asked. “The one next to mine. My, but it’s pretty.” , “Not so pretty as yours. You have a new r hat to go with the dress, haven’t you?” “Yes! Would you like to see it?” “Sure; go up and put it on.” Edythe hurried upstairs; and as soon as she had disappeared, Jim seized the ifiagazine she. had laid on the table and looked long and earnestly at a picture of a dimpled youilg lady In blue satin, covered with silk net of the same shade. Then, hearing signs of activity from the room above, he hastily drew forth a pen-knife and cut picture and description of the girl from the printed page. After supper that evening, before he took Edythe to the bazaar at the country club. Jim drew a slip of paper from his pocket and consumed 15 long ifiinutes in learning,, word for word, the detailed description of a certain evening gown. Reaching the club, he wandered around vMh seeming aimlessness, gradually drawing his companion toward a certain anteroomj over the door Of which were emblazoned the words, “The Great Dress Description Contest.” “It’s a guessing contest,” the girl explained. “Doris How-ard has on her new evening dress. Any man who thinks he knows anything about dresses is given five minutes iij which to write a description of it. The one who writes the best description wins the prize of twenty-five dollars. “I ought to know a lot about dresses, hearing you describe yours all the time,” said Jim thoughtfully. “I guess I’ll take a chance.” He entered the room and was seated at a table with paper and pencil before him. Jim glanced at Doris Howard, who was standing on a slightly raised platform at the far end of the room. Smiling confidently, he set to work. “This beautiful evening gown is of pink satin, silk net of the same shade and maize silk net bordered with gold spangles,” he wrote. “The wide girdle and pointed skirt sections of satin are mounted over a while the top of the bodice and sleeve sections are of gold net joined with the spangled guimpe. The skirt has al foundation of messaline, finished at the bottom with a flounce of lace.” His description finished, he rejoined Edythe outside. • They wandered about from booth to booth, chatting happily until midnight arrived, when the vapous prizes were awarded. “The great dress description contest,” the. president of the club announced, “drew forth niany responses, but by far the best- description was given by our well-known fellow-club-man, Mr. Jim Chambers. This effort Was a masterpiece.” He paused. Jim smiled broadly. “What did I tell you?” he whispered to Edythe. “You can wear your new dress after all.” “But,” the president continued, “although Mr. Chambers’ description was a wonder, he described the wrong dress. Miss Howard’s creation, the ladies inform me, is of rose-colored taffeta and pale pink chiffon cloth, while the dress described by Mr. Chambers was of satin, covered with silk net and bordered with gold spangles. Therefore, while we feel that Mr. Chambers should receive honorable mention, the prize must go to Mr. Harold Janeway, whose description, although less flowery, was more exact.” When he had partly recovered from the shock Jim drew Edythe to one corner of the room.

“Didn’t you tell me this was Doris Howard’s dress?” he asked, indicating the crumpled piece of paper he had drawn from his pocket. Edythe glanced at it, burst into a stifled roar of laughter. “You foolish, foolish boy,” she said, when she could control herself. “That isn’t'the one; you cut out the wrong picture and descriptiop. The right one was on the other side of my dress.” “Well, I’ll be jiggered!” Jim looked the picture of dejection, and the girl placed her hand impulsively on his arm. “Never mind,” she said softly, “I didn’t want to go to the horse show, anyhow.” .. . s s ' (Copyright, 1916, by the McClure Newspaper syndicate.) -