FASHIONS KILLED BY MAN-POWER BILL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 223, 8 June 1918, Page 10

FASHIONS KILLED BY MAN-POWER BILL

LUXURY TRADES THAT WILL HAVE TO DISAPPEAR. Ono of the most dramatic effects of tho M|"i-Powor Bill is (says the London Weekly Dispatch") that it is going to change tile world of fashion, frills and furbelows. In tho calendar of dandy■sm—male and female—there will be a blank spaoe under Ue headings, "Spring and Summer, 1918." It has been one of the remarkable features of this amazing war that practically all the prophccies of the pessimists have proved untrue. It was tho general belief of hard-headed business men interested in luxury trades (hat war would make them bankrupt. As a fact it has made them enormously rich. Thus a number of furriers, diamond merchants, piano and furniture dealers, and sellers of "antiques" practically shut up shop in August, 19H. Their poods for a few days were almost unsaleable. The more pessimistic even inquired about the chances of starting a fund 1.0 relievo them.

A very few mouths of war convinc°d them that never was money so abundant and never was it king spent so freely. The high-water mark of spending, however, was reached last autumn and winter. It was only necessary to have si,mo I luxury article for sale to have a flock of customers. Tho result is that the Midlands and the North of England are simply smothered with fur coats, piano players, "library" sets of famous authors, showy furniture, and "'lrawing-room ornaments." As for jewels, there has been an absolute epidemic of feminine ring buyers. AU this is likely to be altered this year. No doubt money will be plentiful j but luxuries will bo scarce and even tho least thrifty will have a reasonable axcupo for putting money into war lean. Thn Men Affected. By the new Man-Power Bill every Grade I and II man of 43 and under in the following trades will be swept into the Army;— male domestic ser- barman vant barber hotel, eating house, auctioneer, valuer, inn, and club ser- or house agent vant jockey, stable boy, comrner. traveller horse trainer ' canvasser jobmaster, livery advertising agent stable hand billposter monument, mason shop assistant , and makers of ■ 6lio.vcases pianos ' bar fittings organs bedsteads gramophones billiard tables ioys fuoituro sports tackle bags tailoring (men and trunks women's) gold and silverware wall paper electroplate Not only will' pcoplo be worse dressed this year, but they will find a great cliango in all their surroundings. The London clubs and restaurants, and not a few privato houses, have still young and middle-aged men-servants. Elderly waiters are not very widely used, so that in all probability the male waiter will pass nut of fashion and a trim serving maid tako his place. There will bo less racing and fewer facilities for sports generally, for tackle will bo difficult to get, and as the old things got broken it will be impossible to replace them. The Birmingham jewel trade will be severely hit, while tho musical world will only just bo able to keep alive. In many ways 1918 will become a woman's world. la those few trades where comm?rjial travellers are necessary,. more women will have to bo employed; the alien barber will have to do work of national importance, so that probably his sister _or wife will take over tho shaving business, and it is even possiblo that girl jockeys (a great standby for writers of sensational novels) will be taking part in substitute Dorbies this year.