The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1850-03-23
Woman in Male Attire.
BY MISS F. L. TOWNSEND.

w OuAUA uAUhS AbNAANN l.,
BY MISS F. L. TOWNSEND. ).
Among the schemes advocated BY the fe-
male reforneTs Of ths present day, there Is
lone more startling than that which aimHs q
he overthrow Of all distinction in the costume
Of the sexes AS general thing, the reforms
ers either deny the existence OF this project,
or forbear to advocate ii publicly; but the APP
pearance Of pamphlet from the Brussels
press, written by Miss H. M. Weber. 10 which
male attire was boldly and ingeuiousy recon-
mended as the most appropriate vesture ior
single females removes all doubt upon the
subject, and shows conclusively that the
scheme is seriously entertained. Miss Weber
is graceful and vigorous writer, and treats
her subject with apparent fairness. She ad-
duces authorities 10 prove that, in the early
ages, men and women dressed precisely or
very nearly alike; and that the distinction in
dress which now exists was arbitrarily drawn
BY the male sex, in the tyrannical exercise OF
power which they derived solely from their
grea,el physical snPeroptyl
Admitting the truth OF these allegations, 1t
Is vet difficult to discover any want oi hoeral-
ity IN this 'arbirary' decree Of man, for he seems
10 have assigned 10 woman dress Infinitely
more graceful than the one he appropriated 20
himself. There are many women, however,
who are not satisfied with the boundIess varie-
ty OF feminine garments in their wardrobes;
thew delight in setting the rules OF society at
defiance by going about in the garments OF
the other sex. or late, we have seen SO many
Of these amazons on the theatrical boards, that
our natural repugnance to such sights has
gradually worn away. But few years back
: an actress in masculine drcss almost invarl-
bly wore tunic or frock-coat, which COM
pletely euvelOped the form as low down as
the knees, but more recently this commendahle
practice has been repudiated, and every play
goerhds seen the most popular Of odf actresses
such as Miss Cushman, Miss Mary Taylor
i Miss Isabel Dickinson, and many others
striding over the stage in cose~6tting panta
n looms, modish dress. coats and waistcoass-
d looking for all the world like fsale exquisite
Il attred for the ball room. As often as one o
d these actresses appears in such costume, sh
u is greeted with enthusiastic applause, in whic
l. theladies heartily participate, and then conhrI
1t their admiration by viewing her more critical
s. " through their opera glasses. The perm
ID cious tendency of this practice will be app
is rent to any one; ii familarizes the sex
70 behold themselves in costume OF Question
e. able proprety, and, in the long run, they COZ
Of ceiye pencItant for male attire which promp
re many to assume it to the iujury Of their go'
1t. names.
to Miss Weber has, believe, never been
'er the stage; but she has gone a step beyo
Re. Mademoisele Dejazet, or Mademoiselle 1t
sse. sia, or indeed any other theatrical amaz
he known to fame; for, by her own adm'sslt
eS she dresses ercllSiuely in mems clothes,
has doRe so for several years. Her examp
ass in making this bold innovation upon the usaI
Of society, is far more deleterious in It's
d. aenov than her writings. Among thousa
- Of readers the latter may pass as mere vlsl
~ av speculatons, plau6ible enough but
yiousIy impolitc, while her example, reno
conspicuous by her great beatty and acc
H., pshments, her irreproachabe character
~; hiph social position, cannot fail to exercls
vast influence over those with whom she
= sociates. Her plan proposes to restrict
:, 10 their frocks until the completion ot
- education. Upon their entrance INTO soc
thew are to dress precisely like males OF
-. lar ages and condition, and continue 70
"a male attire until the day of their marrIag
" Widows, at the end Of the mourning sea
,.r are to resume mems apparel, unless they
L. L. determined never to marry again. ln
this is a scheme to distinuish marnageaoI
49, males from married women and confirmed
Ows. Regarded in this light it has at leas'
merit; and may, on that accout' Clu',a
70 friendly countenance Of the bachelor II
en- nitv. II would save them vast deal OF Ir'
n in ascesrtaiuing the domestic rank OF
MN" lady acquaintance; and prevent them
IN committing the now common error OF IA
mas nlove with married women.
an With her Characteristic earnes'nes' o.
tenn nose. Miss Weber acts upon her own su 81
ana ,on and dons the style OF dress whic
iaoy considers appropriate to the present era
Iaml' life. Mrs. Gray who visited her at her
lnae' in Belgium, says, sshe usually wears
sa .g dress-coat and light buff wasltcoat en-
90 ~ with plain gilt buttons; dark crayai
sn9 pantatoons and black hat.' Quite an IN
! z" ing costume for handsome young Lady,
'y ond Gentle reader, just imagine yourself a
80 anH NV in this captivating suit! What = hgui
.ean :le would cut in the ball room! How graz
ssnI YOU would trip through the mazes OF the
while around in the gddy waltz ana nj
1es,S 9Th the pro aenades! Wnst masculine
49, S". could hold out against your oVerwh
~. ~ j charms? And then picture TO yours
,,h;msieat duties of your favorte bea