CLEVER WOMEN’S CLOTHES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 24 March 1928, Page 17

CLEVER WOMEN’S CLOTHES.

WHY “BLUE STOCKING ?’

For some unknown reason the term

“blue stocking” is synonomous with the dowdy intellectual woman. How this came to be is not easily understood, for the earliest blue stockings were such women as Lady Mary Worthy Montagu, Fanny Burney, Mary Astell, M rs. Tin ale, Mrs. Uhaprone, Mrs. Vesev —these three famous hostesses —and Hannah More. And even Dr. Johnson himself joined in the chorus of compliments paid to the blue stockings. The name was taken from one Benjamin Shillingfleet, the leader of a little cultured coterie, who wore nine stockings. These women of history were the first women of the feminist movement and there is nothing to lead us to suppose that they were in any ivay dowdy. Always, however, the criticism that they do not give enough care for theii appearance has been levelled against the intellectual woman and Miss (Jhave Cbllison returned to the attack, when she liesougive xiie leading feminists ol Melbourne to put on their best frocks and their latest hats when attending meetings, Dowdiness, she asserted, went with a frumpy mind. And there is little doubt that a feeling of efficiency and self-confidence is helped by, being well-turned out. A leading schoolmistress, when discussing the question recently, declared that when she wore her latest and smartest frock she was sure of holding the attention of her class. And appropos of this, it is amusing to read in an overseas journal that the pupils of the Girls’ High School of Newport, Oregon, in the United States of America, had gone on strike because the newly-appointed principal wore skirts down to her ankles and had not shingled her hair. They declared that it was not possible to get modern teaching from a mistress who would not. wear modern dress. Though deprecating their methods, one must admit that there is something in their ■assertion. In these, very efficient times the stamp of cultured men and women should ho well-groomed smartnees.