Chapter 28—Relation of Dress to Education
“In modest apparel.” “The King’s daughter is all glorious within.”
No education can be complete that does not teach right principles
in regard to dress. Without such teaching, the work of education is too
often retarded and perverted. Love of dress, and devotion to fashion,
are among the teacher’s most formidable rivals and most effective
hindrances.
Fashion is a mistress that rules with an iron hand. In very many
homes the strength and time and attention of parents and children are
absorbed in meeting her demands. The rich are ambitious to outdo
one another in conforming to her ever-varying styles; the middle and
poorer classes strive to approach the standard set by those supposed to
be above them. Where means or strength is limited, and the ambition
for gentility is great, the burden becomes almost insupportable.
With many it matters not how becoming, or even beautiful, a
garment may be, let the fashion change, and it must be remade or cast
aside. The members of the household are doomed to ceaseless toil.
There is no time for training the children, no time for prayer or Bible
study, no time for helping the little ones to become acquainted with
God through His works.
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There is no time and no money for charity. And often the home
table is stinted. The food is ill selected and hastily prepared, and the
demands of nature are but partially supplied. The result is wrong habits
of diet, which create disease or lead to intemperance.
The love of display produces extravagance, and in many young
people kills the aspiration for a nobler life. Instead of seeking an
education, they early engage in some occupation to earn money for
indulging the passion for dress. And through this passion many a
young girl is beguiled to ruin.
In many a home the family resources are overtaxed. The father, un-
able to supply the demands of the mother and the children, is tempted
to dishonesty, and again dishonor and ruin are the result.
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