DRESS AND COLOUR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 42, 13 November 1907, Page 3

DRESS AND COLOUR.

What' a diiferenco dress makes to us all! Tho knowledge that she is well turned out gives a shy .woman confidence in herself; while even a plain featured one knows she has done her best to overcome the failings of nature. In fact, systematic and careful consideration of clothes has often given a woman a reputation for being "smart," and that is something which many a really beautiful woman envies. Tho mere fact that not a littlo of life's happiness depends upon dress'and general appearance is a reason why scarcely any troublo should bo considered too great to "spend upon it. The girl who irons out her muslin frocks every time sho is going to wear them deserves far more than sho who wears them with tho creases left in. There are far too many women who are too lazy personally to exert themselves over their clothes. They are not hopelessly dowdy, for they set, a certain valuo on their appearance, but they are apt to get into a groovo which it is difficult to leave. "She knows what suits me," is often given as a good reason for clinging to one dressmaker or milliner for year after year, but what is to prevent that milliner's or dressmaker's ideas regarding that particular customer from narrowing too? Thero is nA doubt that it is a good thing every now and then to break from somo of tho settled traditions, particularly thoso regarding dress.

"MY DEAR." N What a strange, unlooked-for meaning can be put into tho two, little words " my dear." Considered dispassionately, thoy havo an affectionate sound, and their signification is tenderness itself, but through the innate perversity of human nature, thoy are almost always* used to convey reproof or criticism. "My dear, you are late." " R-eally, my dear, I can't truthfully say you aro looking your best." Sweet little syllables, put to " uses vile." AVben a man says "dear" to his wife, it merely implies his habitual consciousness of their relation; when ho says " darling," ho is again the lover of the honeymoon; but when he says "my dear" ho is asserting his dignity as head of tho household. This snbtlo distinction reminds mo (says a writer in "Black and Whito") of a quaint speech mado years ago by a ten-year-old country lassie. "When mother calls to you ' Come, honey!' you know it's cake or something good; when sho shouts ' Como, Lizzie 1' it may bo dinner or just nothing; but when' she calls out, 'Coinc, Lizzie Briggsl 1 well, then, you'd host look outl"