Undoubtedly there are a few positive characters who are able to "rise above" their environment, who are able to impress the people with whom they come in contact in spite of their clothes. Sometimes we read of some learned woman, who has "made good in her profession," who says that she has not looked in a mirror for years; but such a woman is a rare exception, and one is not safe in gambling  with one's chances of success by following her. It is not the positive characters with whom we are concerned, however, for they are few and somehow manage to take care of themselves. The vast majority of the race are not so blessed, and we need to observe but little to realize that with them the reaction of clothes is an important factor. School girls should know that clothes may make a career; happiness and leadership in all the years of high school and college life may be affected by the story a Freshman's clothes tell. Many a girl with a keen mind, who has a natural disregard for clothes, perhaps, or who has not been trained in the appreciation of beauty in clothes, has lost her opportunities for leadership and self-expression which by right her brain power should have given her. One of the mental capacities which we all exercise and yet exercise most unconsciously is that of passing judgment on the people we meet. In a majority of cases the judgment is superficial  and inaccurate; but the estimate is made. Some people may not get their final judgment till they hear one talk and will judge one by the tone of voice and by what is said as the true index; but the vast majority will form an opinion based largely, if not entirely, on appearance. One tells the world daily of one's ideals, ambitions or good breeding through dress; and it is told so plainly that "he who runs may read" and, perhaps, he who reads may run. The author thinks it is   _   for most of us to judge the people we meet by what they wear.
natural foolish surprising necessary