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Alas Quote by M. E. W. Sherwood

“In the early forties and fifties almost everybody "had about enough to live on," and young ladies dressed well on a hundred dollars a year. The daughters of the richest man in Boston were dressed with scrupulous plainness, and the wife and mother owned one brocade, which did service for several…” quote by M. E. W. Sherwood
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“In the early forties and fifties almost everybody "had about enough to live on," and young ladies dressed well on a hundred dollars a year. The daughters of the richest man in Boston were dressed with scrupulous plainness, and the wife and mother owned one brocade, which did service for several years. Display was considered vulgar. Now, alas! only Queen Victoria dares to go shabby.”

M. E. W. Sherwood

About This Quote

Source Historical essay: Social customs in early 20th‑century America, 1940s‑1950s

The passage contrasts modest living standards of most people with the restrained dress of the wealthy, noting that conspicuous display was frowned upon and only royalty seemed to defy that norm now

In simple terms: People then lived modestly; even the rich dressed simply, avoiding flashy display

Key Takeaway

Modesty was valued over ostentation

Themes

modesty class fashion social norms

Mood

reflective nostalgic

Type

observational historical

When to use this quote

  • studying period clothing
  • writing historical fiction
  • analyzing class dynamics
  • teaching social history

Key Concepts

historical context economic conditions cultural expectations

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does contemporary fashion reflect class attitudes?
  • What drives the shift from modesty to conspicuous consumption?
A Different Perspective

Modern consumer culture often celebrates excess, challenging the old restraint

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