HOUSING AND CLOTHING 1045 



attributed to them, not being restricted to that of the feet. Shoes should 

 be designed on lines more nearly corresponding to those of the foot; 

 straight on the inside, with broad toes and low heels broad and long enough 

 to support the arch of the foot. Very high heels throw the whole body 

 out of balance, cause backache and legache, and affect the nerves. Most 

 women wear shoes too small for them; they should fit, with the large 

 joint opposite the broad part of the sole, Avith ample room for the toes and 

 at the same time snug at the heel. 



Children's Dress. — In dressing children, it should be remembered 

 that they are at the playtime of life, that bodily freedom is of more import- 

 ance to them than fine clothes. Children like cheerful colors and look well 

 in bright ones; they should not be made somber before their years. Clean- 

 liness should be instilled in their minds early; not the cleanliness which 

 forbids making mud pies, but the kind which means frequent baths and 

 clean underwear. 



The infant needs the softest wool, or silk and wool, as protection about 

 the stomach, and flannel shirts and skirts in cool weather; they should all 

 be light in weight, very soft and clean. Woolen dresses are very undesir- 

 able, being too warm and not easily washed. The habit of bundling babies 

 up until they cannot move, and then covering their faces if there is a 

 breath of air about, is greatly to be deplored. 



Economy in Clothing. — The question of economy in clothes comes 

 close home to most people. Changes in fashion are so frequent, and the 

 manufacture of materials has become so cheap that fabrics are often not 

 made for wear, but merely for fleeting appearance. To buy wisely a 

 woman needs some knowledge of textiles. She should, for example, recog- 

 nize cotton when it is skilfully mixed with wool or finished to look like 

 linen; she should understand that silk can be loaded with metallic salts, 

 and that a heavy silk is not necessarily a good one. With fresh accessories, 

 such as girdles and collars, garments made from good materials in not too 

 marked a style may be worn for several seasons. Poor materials, though 

 perhaps attractive to begin with, are disappointing in wear, and the time 

 spent in making them up is often lost. 



Ready-made garments are much more attractive than formerly, and 

 if carefully chosen save time and may prove economical. One must con- 

 sider the cost of making as well as the cost of materials, when comparing 

 them with homemade garments. If much alteration is necessary it will 

 probably not pay to buy them. The greatest fault in much ready-made 

 clothing is the amount of cheap trimming used, a good garment often 

 being spoiled thus. 



In conclusion, much thought is necessary if we are to get the best 

 results for the least money. More and more intelligent thought is needed, 

 and when women as a whole are willing to give this, perhaps they will be 

 masters over fashion, instead of allowing fashion to master them. 



