THE QUESTION OF UNDERCLOTHES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 189, 12 May 1928, Page 18

THE QUESTION OF UNDERCLOTHES

Underclothes of silk, both real and artificial, are being increasingly worn by those who like a change from the conventional “lingerie.” The outlay is often very much more expensive in the first place, and certain silks are apt to become discoloured with frequent washing. One of the chief reasons, however, why the average person exchanges cotton for silk lies in the laundry question. Many women much prefer cotton and.lawn underclothes to the ordinary silk and silk-woven garments. But cotton garments are more difficult to wash. They need more processes, and even when washed at home are apt to lose their original whiteness. Laundries, on the other hand, are so expensive that most women feel bound to do a good deal of their own washing, whereas before the war it was the custom to send it out. Laundries, moreover, do not discriminate in their charges. Because a garment is called silk much more will be charged for it than for a similar garment which, even if not made of silk, is far mere complicated to iron (says the “Manchester Guardian”). Moreover, a good many so-called silk materials are not silk at ’ail, but being used for petticoats, even of the simplest straightest cut, it is assumed that they are silk, and petticoats for some unknown reason cost more to wash than nightdresses. Silk underclothes, and particularly those of woven artificial silk, are very easily washed at home and as easily ironed. They look almost new after successive home washings, which is almost impossible in the case of linen underwear. Thus, even if. the initial expense be greater, the upkeep need be no more than the cost of the soap and the warm water, and, moreover, fewer garments are needed, since they , can be washed and dried in a day or so. This is the chief reason why silk underclothes have to so large an extent taken the place of those made of cotton and lawn.

A tree-planting ceremony, possibly without paralleFin the history of London, took place at Tottenham recently (says an exchange). Forty-two years ago seven sisters, named Hibbert, daughters of a butcher in the neighbourhood, planted seven ■ trees on Page Green, Tottenham, to replace the seven famous elms from which Seven Sisters Road took its name. Recently five of. the sisters revisited Tottenham and planted three trees at the same spot to replace three ■ which had disappeared as the result of the ravages of time. One was brought down in a recent snowstorm. The original elm trees were planted by seven sisters 150 years ago on an estate which' was said to have belonged to a Sir Charles Reed. Dick Turpin, according to local tradition, used to lie in the shade of the elms. One sister was unable to take’ part in the ceremony owing to illness, and was represented bv a daughter. Pollard elms . were planted, these being regarded as more suitable for the purpose.