THE EXPENSIVE TRIFLE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 220, 10 June 1908, Page 11

THE EXPENSIVE TRIFLE.

Women are sometimes startled td find how much money they can'spend on the small accessories of dress, says ; the Melbourne "Argus." As time goes on combs, belts, handkerchiefs,' handbags, veils, and' fancy 'hosiery become more and - more fascinating, and every' day it seems - more difficult to forgo the pleasure-of acquiring them. But while ive women are-being tempted to fresh extravagance,similar traps are boing laid for customers in masculine shops. Nowadays many men are as particular dbout the details of their dress, as most girls are. They are not content to simply buy a tie and wear it; on tho contrary, a man will often fuss over making a satisfactory choice in a Bciop in a way that a businesslike girl would never dream of. A man who tales pride m his appearanco insists upon his tie, his vest, or, at any rate, his vest buttons, and his socks matching. Neckties are • fast becoming a jnost expensive accessory. At some of the best shops a guinea for a tie is quite a usual price, while really good silk socks cost, from 255. to £2 2s. per' pair. The best woollen socks are from 9s. 6d. to 15s. per pair, : and a set of vest buttons are cheap at .a guinea. The essentia] gold tie safetypin may bo any price from, a shilling for the rolled gold- article to tbo real thing costing £1. Also, there are several developments in masculine tailoring matters that,'strike tho feminine oye at once. There seems to bo a . rule that every new coat must have a slit-somewhere, and that slit is increasing •in height. When it is in tho back seam of the coat the. opening often extends right above the waist, and buttons are placed to koep it together. On the other hand, if tho back seam is intact, the slits are in the under-arm seams, and thev are also increasing in; height, and are often buttoned to keep the back and'front-together.

It is stated in some of the English papers that, tho-.Princess- Mary of Wales will bo sent to a school instead-of being educated privately, -This is a great departure from tradition in the caso of . ladies of the Roya! family, although-the..boys are usually sent to rnuglv it among other boys. -.The Princess of- Wales has expressed the wish that her small daughter should be free from tho painful shyness that mokes the lives of some of the membors or tho Royal family .something-' liko a torture.' The Princess holds that 'private .education only encourages excessive' self-consciousness, which; can only. bo . avoided by -bringing children into free contact ;witb other children. Theso views are. said to be shared, by the ICing and- Quocir, who fully approve of the new • departure,i ns they are conscious of the harm dono fo- some - members of their . own family 'by uiinwossary ' geclasion and ojuilusivouess.