Picture Play Magazine (Sep 1920 - Feb 1921)

Advertising Section What Happened to Ruth By BEATRICE IMBODEN IT was Spring on the campus ! Fairies had come and suddenly spread over the gray buildings and brown lawns a mystic net interwoven of green and gold, of fragrance and sunlight. But there was no Spring in the heart of a slender, dark-eyed girl crossing the quadrangle. Her sombre expression caught the eyes of a friend. "Cheer up, Ruthie ! Maybe it's not so bad as you think," laughed this rosy-cheeked maiden, slipping her arm in Ruth's. "Dot, what's the use of it all?" passionately burst out Ruth. "I'm going to quit college ! I'm young, alive — I don't want to grind away three more dull years I" "Why — gracious me ! — college is just the place where one can have good times !" "You know it is not — for us !" Ruth repressed her almost sternly. "Let's be frank, for once. You and I don't have good times. We just study and go to poky lectures and slip into the back seats of concerts so no one will notice our clothes. And that's all ! No, I'm going to stop ! I'll go to the city next year and work. Maybe I can save some money." "For what?" asked Dot. "For clothes ! Of course ! What do you suppose I'm haranguing about?" jerked out Ruth. She turned her head away quickly. "I w-wouldn't care if I could have just one new Spring suit — I wouldn't ask for many clothes !" "Oh," murmured Dot knowingly. For a couple were approaching — a tall, laughing boy with an. attractive girl who wore jauntily a pretty Spring costume. "Why, hello Ruth," exclaimed the boy. "Say, I had a letter from home yesterday. Want to hear the news?" "I — I haven't time now," and Ruth hurried on. dragging Dot with her. "Why won't you let Alex talk to you?" reproached Dot. "He's a dear — and about the most popular boy in the University." "In my old blue suit — and Grace Morrison all togged out?" demanded Ruth icily. "She isn't as pretty as you." declared Dot with warmth. But Ruth's gloom was compliment-proof. "Well, goodbye. I'm going upstairs to study," she said, as they reached their boarding place. In her room at last, the books lay untouched. She was wistfully recalling a moonlight night last August when she and Alex had planned to spend this Spring together. They were from the same little town and for years Alex had deserted his fine, big home on the hill to spend evenings iu Ruth's rather thread-bare little sitting room, where her school-teacher father and dear mother made him welcome. But in Millersville everyone knew and loved the Allisons — clothes didn't count. At college they did, it seemed. "I don't think all those prettv, happv sorority girls are snobs," Ruth told herself gloomily. "They don't know me and my plain clothes make me awkward and shy." And it certainly was not Alex's fault — he had tried his loyal best to take her into the circle where his good looks, good clothes, and good car had quickly placed him. But after one or two unhappy evenings, when Ruth had suffered agonies in her plain white graduating frock among butterfly girls in tulle and silk, she had refused his invitations. Finally, cut by her refusals, he had ceased to see her. "I don't care !" muttered Ruth. And she flung herself on the couch and sobbed. Saturday, Ruth's Aunt Susanna ran down from the city to see her. "She's wonderful !" Ruth told Dot. "Uncle Harvey lost his money three years ago but she manages to dress even better than before. She's so clever !" Aunt Susanna proved fashionable — and wise. She attended a lecture or two, visited classes and eyed Ruth critically. "Where are the parties and athletic events and such?" she suggested. "I thought college nowadays was one glad dream for you vourig folks?" "Not for me," said Ruth shortly. "Well, well. I must look into this when you come to visit me in June." and Aunt Susanna deftly turned the subject. College dragged out to the year's end. Ruth declared she was not coming back. Dot heard little from her that Summer. But a mysterious card came in June bearing the word "Eureka !" Then one in August. Meet me at the train in September," which Dot did one crisp Fall morning. "Where is Ruth?" she was wondering as passengers filed off the train, not recognizing a smart, slender figure in a blue traveling dress whose tailored touches and good lines simply cried "Style !" Then Ruth hugged her. "You dear, to come back !" cried Dot. "Why, how stunning you look — and how happy !" Yes. Ruth was more than pretty, she was beautiful now ! Some miracle had touched her. Alex rushed up to her just then. "So glad to see you," he cried. "How dar — er — dandy you look," he rushed on, a little confused. "Our frat gives a little dance tomorrow night. May — may I come for you?" and Ruth smiled acceptance. After lunch two trunks came for Ruth, much to Dot's amazement. Last year one small one had sufficed. "I'm dying to know what's in them," Dot said. "May I see? I scent a surprise — you seem so mysterious !" At once Ruth unlocked one. Then she drew from its tissue paper wrappings a miracle of a visiting costume, soft chiffon velvet, a lovely taupe color. Frenchily set off by a tiny vest of gold and pink brocade. With this went a taupe georgette blouse, beaded in gold, pink and old blue. "Where in the world did you get that beautiful costume?" Dot was wide-eyed. Ruth smiled, then lifted out an evening dress, crimson silk, covered with petal-like tiers of tulle, ranging from rose to flame color, shoulder-strapped with tiny hand-made satin roses. "Ruthie Allison, you don't mean that dream of a gown is yours?" Not answering. Ruth took out another dress, with panniers and quaint peasant bodice. "Corn color ! The color I always said you should wear !" exclaimed Dot. "Here is my favorite." smiled Ruth calmly, displaying a dainty creation of cream-colored satin and silver lace. Dot gasped, "Pinch me — am I still on earth ?" she whispered. "Three party frocks ! Surely there can be nothing more !" But there was — a blue silk "for Sundays." exquisitely braided and faintly touched with scarlet ; an intricately draped printed voile, all misty grays and lavenders with a violet girdle : a smart brown serge sailor suit and ah even smarter checked woolen frock with clever flare pockets and tiny leather belt. "Just one more, except for shirtwaists and such," said Ruth, lifting out a wonderful evening coat, aero blue with white marabou collar. Then Ruth faced her friend. "No. I didn't rob a bank or find a pot of gold," she began. "And I didn't exceed my clothes allowance of $100." Dot turned frightened eyes on her — something had surely affected Ruth's brain. "Honestly ! I'll prove it by this expense account. Taupe velvet, brocade and georgette, $28 (I plunged on that costume.) . Tulle for party gown $6.50. The foundation was an old red silk cover for our square piano, laid away and forgotten. "The evening coat was mother's long-ago party cape. The corn-color silk was an old dress of hers. And do you recognize the braided taffeta? My last year's best dress! The other party dress contains three and a half yards of crepe satin and three of silver lace at a cost of $21.70." "Don't dare analyze that compound of moonlight and mystery !" commanded Dot. "The traveling dress was my last year's suit : the checked wool a made-over, too." "But who made them? Has a Fifth Avenue modiste adopted you?" "Why, I did !" came Ruth's reply. "You see, Aunt Susanna told me her secret. She learned to sew wonderfully right at home, and she insisted that I could, too. And I did ! Why after only four lessons I made some dear 'undies,' two waists and this crepe kimono ! Then I made over that checked wool horror Miss Simms, the Millersville dressmaker, had evolved. Don't you like it?" "It's wonderful ! But tell me, how did you learn all this at home? Who taught you? I'm breathless to know !" "Why, the Woman's Institute, of course. I was soon able to make really elaborate things, so I took a trip to the city and copied some models from a fashionable shop. Then I made some darling clothes for several kiddies at home and earned enough for slippers and boots. During Christmas vacation I've promised to help on a bridal trousseau — and thereby earn my Spring suit !" "Do you think I could learn to sew, too?" Dot's voice was unsteady now. "Learn :" exclaimed Ruth. "Why. you couldn't help learning ! The text books seem to foresee and answer every possible question. The pictures are simply marvelous and the teachers take just as personal an interest in your work as they do here in the college classrooms ! those pretty, happy sorority fjirls are snobs," It u tli told herself gloomily. "I know that the Woman's Institute has really made me more capable than most professional dressmakers — after just these fewmonths of study at home !" "Well, you won't be able to keep Alex away now," said Dot meaningly. Ruth's eyes grew dreamy. She saw herself in the moonlight-andmystery gown, queening it among his frat friends, while he watched jealously, or in the rose-and-flame dress which turned her into a vivid, glowing gypsy, transformed her lips lo scarlet petals and eyes to deep dark pools of allurement, listening to an ardent question. And she knew her dream was really a prophecy ! For a sequel to Ruth's story peep into a sorority house the following Spring. There are Ruth and Dorothy in a group of girls. They had "joined" in the fall. "And it should have been a year earlier !" exclaimed one girl. "But we never would have known what darlings you two are had we not been attracted first by your delightful clothes ! Clothes really are a sign-post to one's character. What are you going to do this Summer, Ruth?" "I won't tell." she laughed. "But just you girls bring back all the feathers and scraps of velvet you can !" "I know," said one wise maiden, "the Woman's Institute teaches millinery, too. Going to make us some bridesmaids' hats. Ruthie?" And Ruth's blush was no denial. What happened to Ruth can happen to you. More than 70.000 women and girls in city town and country have proved that you can quickly leam at home, in spare time, through the Woman's Institute, to make all your own and your children's clothes and hats or prepare for success in dressmaking or millinery as a business. It costs you nothing to find out what the Institute can do for you. Just send a letter, post-card or the convenient coupon below and you will receive — without obligation — the full story of this great school that has brought the happiness of having dainty, becoming clothes, savings almost too good to be true, and the joy of being independent in a successful business, to women and girls all over the world. WOMAN'S INSTITUTE Dept. 59-M, Scranton. IYnna. Please send me one of your booklets and tell me how I can learn the subject marked below : □ Home Dressmaking □ Millinery □ Professional Dressmaking □ Cookinn Name (Please specify whether Mrs. or Miss) Address