INTERESTING TO WOMEN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1175, 22 November 1913, Page 4

INTERESTING TO WOMEN.

LADY DENMAN’S VIEWS ON

MODERN DRESS

All over the world there is an outcry against the present fashions. The majority of the complainants say that they are immodest; many ministers have gone further, and have said that they are Indecent; some authorities have even declared them outrageous and have had the wearers of split skirts and transparent blouses sent to gaol. The question of interest to us is : Are the dresses the women of Australia aud New Zealand are wearing today either startling or shocking ? To obtain authoritative views on this question, the editor of Everylady’s Journal recently sent a representative to interview a number of notable people, aud a summary of their ideas is that it is only in their extremes that the modern fashions are objectionable, and that of our women the number who adopt these extremes is very small indeed.

Lady Denman, wife of the Governor-General of the Commonwealth, said, in answer to the question, “I certainly think that the fashions of to day are very sane, and much in advance of their predecessors. Women of good taste and refined feeling will in variably utilise the best in any fashion and leave the other qualities for those who live for notoriety, The hobble skirt is extremely ugly, but the split skirt, if kept within certain bounds, certainly has its uses.” Dr Carr, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, has been rather shocked by the scantiness of the modern draperies, and he said to the interviewer that “any woman who, by the scantiness or transparency of her dress, seeks to attract attention or provoke temptation, is guilty of a grave sin of scandal.”

Among those who give opinions on the question of dress in the current issue of Everylady’s Journal are Mr Fred Niblo, the well-known American actor ; Miss Madge Titheradge ; the Rev F. C. Spurr; Dr J. W. Barrett; Dr Clarke, Archbishop of Melbourne ; and Miss Vida Goldstein. Another interesting feature ol this number, and one that is of the practical order, is an article on stencilling. This is one of a series of articles which the journal has been publishing on Home industries that Pay. This particular article is of special value because it is illustrated with a large number of very excellent stencil patterns, specially designed by Australian artists who have used Australian subjects. There is some very clever fiction and sketch writing in this number of Everylady’s Journal, but the crowning feature in the fiction line is the second instalment of “What Happened to Mary ?” Mary is one ot the most remarkable characters in modern fiction. In America her stories have been sold by the million. She has beeu used as the subject of innumerable songs, stories and pictures. Her adventure tales have beeu published by the greatest magazines, and have beeu shown on the screens of thousands of picture theatres. She has invaded England and is carrying all before her there, and now she has come to Australia, and Everylady’s Journal has secured the exclusive magazine lights of her

stories. Each of these adventures is a separate story in itself, but they dovetail so perfectly that, as a whole, they make a fascinating tale of modern lile. We venture to think that Mary will make as big a hit in this country as she has done on the other side of the world. Everylady’s Journal is on sale locally tor sixpence, and is a magazine to please every woman reader.