True Taste in Dress. — The highest art in dress is that which, while conform- ing in a measure to the prevailing fashion, exercises taste in the natural adornment of the body. It is a sad sight to see suddenly rich people in city and country in gaudy and vulgar fineiy ; they deserve only the ridicule they meet in their attempts to ape the aristocrats abroad. The real gentleman or lady is never so dressed as to attract special attention. Hence the real art of dress, whatever the station, or however rich, may be summed up in two words : Unobtrusive simplicity. Almost equally few are the words describing the manners of the gentleman or lady. They are simply: Modesty, unassuming dignity, and self-possession. II. The Real Purposes of Dress. The real purposes of dress, beyond that of satisfying the natural instinct of modesty and gratifying the universal passion for personal adornment, are to properly prevent the loss of animal heat in winter, to facilitate the escape of the animal heat in summer, and to protect the person from the extremes of the weather. The reason why it is necessary to comply measurably with the demands of fashion, is, that any one who departs too far from the general custom in dress, becomes so conspicuous as to attract that attention which every right-minded person seeks to avoid. That lady [370] DRESS, AND TOILET ART. 371 was perfectly dressed of whom this story is tojd: Having visited a friend, the next day the friend was asked by a visitor (not perfect in dress or manners) what she wore. " Indeed," was the rci)ly, "I did not notice her dress; only the charm of her manner and conversation." A delicate hint to the other, that if asked how she was dressed, it would not have been hard to remember. No Warmth in Clothes.— The notion that the body receives warmth from the dress is altogether wrong. There is no actual warmth in clothing. It is simply its power of conserving or preventing the escape of the natural heat of the body that makes it seem warm. "With the thermometer at seventy or eighty degrees, but little clothing is required. With the thermometer at one hundred degrees, the real science of dress is to facilitate the escape of heat by every possible means, as, for instance, a free circulation of air. The heat of the body comes from the food we eat. Hence, in the summer, heating food should be avoided. Perspiration is the principal natural means of reducing excessive heat of the body; and thus the person who works in a great heat perspires continuously and violently. If this were not so, the system would quickly give way and death ensue. III. Clothe According to Circumstances. It is not our pui-pose to write a dissertation on fashionable dress. We only pro- pose to show something of the philosophy and economy of clothing. The good sense of every lady and gentleman will easily suggest what kind of clothes they shall wear. The pocket as well as the taste must here be consulted. But yet, it is not so much the material, as the manner in which it is made up and worn, that marks the person of refinement and sensibility — the true gentleman and lady. A person may be soiled with work that brings one in contact with dirt and grime, and yet not be offensive. Yet it is a fact, dirt does not stick so easily' to some people as to others — probably for the reason that the same impulse towards cleanliness, that prompts bathing and a change of dress, immediately the M'ork is done, prevents also undue contact with that which is offensive. IV. Mending Clothes.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

True Taste in Dress. — The highest art in dress is that which, while conforming in a measure to the prevailing fashion, exercises taste in the natural adornment of the body. It is a sad sight to see suddenly rich people in city and country in gaudy and vulgar finery ; they deserve only the ridicule they meet in their attempts to ape the aristocrats abroad. The real gentleman or lady is never so dressed as to attract special attention. Hence the real art of dress, whatever the station, or however rich, may be summed up in two words : Unobtrusive simplicity. Almost equally few are the words describing the manners of the gentleman or lady. They are simply: Modesty, unassuming dignity, and self-possession. II. The Real Purposes of Dress. The real purposes of dress, beyond that of satisfying the natural instinct of modesty and gratifying the universal passion for personal adornment, are to properly prevent the loss of animal heat in winter, to facilitate the escape of the animal heat in summer, and to protect the person from the extremes of the weather. The reason why it is necessary to comply measurably with the demands of fashion, is, that any one who departs too far from the general custom in dress, becomes so conspicuous as to attract that attention which every right-minded person seeks to avoid. That lady [370] DRESS, AND TOILET ART. 371 was perfectly dressed of whom this story is tojd: Having visited a friend, the next day the friend was asked by a visitor (not perfect in dress or manners) what she wore. " Indeed," was the reply, "I did not notice her dress; only the charm of her manner and conversation." A delicate hint to the other, that if asked how she was dressed, it would not have been hard to remember. No Warmth in Clothes.— The notion that the body receives warmth from the dress is altogether wrong. There is no actual warmth in clothing. It is simply its power of conserving or preventing the escape of the natural heat of the body that makes it seem warm. "With the thermometer at seventy or eighty degrees, but little clothing is required. With the thermometer at one hundred degrees, the real science of dress is to facilitate the escape of heat by every possible means, as, for instance, a free circulation of air. The heat of the body comes from the food we eat. Hence, in the summer, heating food should be avoided. Perspiration is the principal natural means of reducing excessive heat of the body; and thus the person who works in a great heat perspires continuously and violently. If this were not so, the system would quickly give way and death ensue. III. Clothe According to Circumstances. It is not our purpose to write a dissertation on fashionable dress. We only propose to show something of the philosophy and economy of clothing. The good sense of every lady and gentleman will easily suggest what kind of clothes they shall wear. The pocket as well as the taste must here be consulted. But yet, it is not so much the material, as the manner in which it is made up and worn, that marks the person of refinement and sensibility — the true gentleman and lady. A person may be soiled with work that brings one in contact with dirt and grime, and yet not be offensive. Yet it is a fact, dirt does not stick so easily to some people as to others — probably for the reason that the same impulse towards cleanliness, that prompts bathing and a change of dress, immediately the work is done, prevents also undue contact with that which is offensive. IV. Mending Clothes.

Twentieth century home cook book