Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-06-21
II Z B u G LIE.
The New Costume,


We arc compelled to believe, that for once
fashion, is about n DO a sensible thing. We
have been silent, but deeply interested spccta-
tor Of the progress OF the proposed change in
Female dress. We have been silent because
the work has been assumed by those and those
only capable of its accomplishment Had re-
formers commenced its advocacy on the ground
of physiological and moral necessity, years
could not have secured the cooperation of the
press, as weeks have done under the influences,
that are now bearing onward this reform. The
wealth and fashion Of the country have com.
monccd the work. We presume that the desired
perfection Of costume is not yet attained, either
in regard to convenience comfort or elegance.
But from the despotic throne of fashion the
mandate has been issued for Change and the
intelligence and good sense that now pervadcs
tho community th.t now points woman to
broader sphere and noblcr destiny than any to
which her sex has before ospircd-will perfect
the work. Woman in assuming, as she is now
about to do, her individuality and responsibility
in all the organizations Of society, will natural
ly and of necessity drop the badges and clogs
appropriate to her past dependent position
That our readers may known what is doing and
the valid reason for change, we copy the follow
ing articles. Tho first is from southern cor
respondent of the Home Journal tho organ and
vehicle Of New York fashion.
GENTLEMEN-You have so kindly interest.
cd yourselves in or favor, aud so encOurn-
ged, in your able manner, the contemplated
change in ladies' dress, that must thank
you. nm interested in the subject, too. /
adore Turkish trousers ! am 81 anxious to
don my tonic aud trousers, though rather
afraid yet, ihotl must beg you TO throw all
your learning, eloquence refinement, AM,
taste on our side. viii you2 We South.
crners have such pretty icet-you know our
feet are celebrnted-thnt ] really think, il |
there is any justice in Fashion, our time is |
coming. should cry out, Liberty i'll were |
free Of my long, embarrassing, always-iu-tlIe-
way skirts. You can easily Imagine their in
convenience. Just fancy your feet eternully
cnyeloped in costly, voluminOus folds, from
which there is no escape, by any known ma
n9uvre. Imagine long flight of steps to
ascend or horse running away with you,
or yonr carriHge in danger, how OH earth
could you ascend the steps without stepping
OIL your dress? or spring from your horse
without being caught, or hung, or clear the
carriage without being diSgrGceully tripprd
up! But the Inconvenience of this fashion,
which we have borne so patiently, do not
stop here. You find walking, riding, aud
jumping, attended with so many dangers do
try sitting, If you please. You may fancy
that you can, ut least, sit in peace; but your |
troubles do not cease with lucomoiibn. You !
draw chair, aud your skirts are spread
around you, as usual, carpeting the floor
with rich brocades or gossimcr tissues, OF
costly patterns aud delicate hues. People
and perhaps children, are trampins around
you, and on your robes, of course. You rise
somebody's chair is on the hem of your
beautiful dress; and what bit is taken out,
Thus not only our purses, hut our tenpcrs
suffer. These are not half the evils i could
cnunerate. They produce feeling of de-
pendence, and all elasticity is siilcd. Thus
encountered, your friends the ladies', nre de-
barred all licallhhul exercise; there is 40
clear-looted spruging; no bounding; no
llghtncss and ease but ever the same slow,
stately, careful step, and uneasy, cumbrous,
draggled, muddy, dusty feeling! Do you
not perceive, my dear gentlemen, that our
feet nre as useless as though we were all
Chinese? DO you not see that our limbs are
fettered; our tcmpers certainly not improved;
and all activity shamefully discouraged by
this fashion, under which we have been
groanng for years? Now, the bare idea of
delicate ladies dressing ont in lntaIoons
like men, is horribly rGpulsivc. They step
over barriers from which true modcsIy
shrinks but short, full, richly bordered
skirt, aud tight boddlce, with the Turkish
trousers, and perhaps glittcring Onklets forms
costume really pleasant 10 the eye and
both grlish and graceful. There is nothing
riasculinc in this dress; on the contrary, it
ia light, becoming aud delicate. No body
rould object TO so picturesque costume
Squealnisli old maids and glandmoihcrs,
need not adopt it, any more than they would
short sleeves and infant waists, (Which are
yet so graceful for the young lady in her
Ieens.) But, for the young, s!oe-eyed, 1.-the
limbed ihiry-iooted Southerncr, how charm
ing ii would he! Are not llouris and the
idols Of the IIarem thus robcd? Do speak
up Tor lis.
Your constant reader,
VIRGINIA.
Mrs. oakcs Smith whose brilliant talents
have commanded the resprct of all elnsscs. and