Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-08-15

nacKinen-al turned 80 give her second loo
!; Her breath came short and fast her color wei
II and came, her little feet seemed to be takin
tfeir own course independently of her will sh
a was bewildered--she was a novice she wa
n not used to being gazed at-the child was bu
n sixteen
n She drew long breath as she turned out q
= Washington street. She was reioiced that g
n much of it was over, and with more selfposse,
: sion, she now rapidly crossed the Common an
was glad when she reached Walnut street. He
), friend was in, and though she shook her hea
I at Alice's new freak, she yielded to her entres
! ties to walk back with her.
Thus protected, Alice bore the gaze Of tn
crowd better than she had done at first Sh
was walking more at her case on the mall, whe
she came suddenly upon three large negro VIC
men, dressed Bloomer style, ike herself The
wore tuncs, yellow pantaletts, yellow gloves
and blue boots. They stopped before her, an
one putting out her hand in friendly manner
said good humoredy, We'll met, comrade wis
you Joy party of young men standing at
little distance, burst into roar Of laughter
Poor Alice felt as if her face was crimson sh
hurried along, scarcely needing whether he
Trend Kept up or not ;she re crossed Washing
ton street, she gained the SHELTER of the Court
she was reJoiced to reach her own door. Here
she parted with her friend, and went up soft
ly 70 her room; at least she thought she wen,
softly; but her grandfather, if he was lame
was not deaf he had been listening for her
step he called her, and she had to come to
him.
1t seems to me you are back quickly said
, he.
4 went as far as wished to- replied she.
Had enough oft, hey !" said her grandmoth-
er.
Alice was silent.
Were there any others out ? inquired her
mother.
Yes said Alice Indignantly; 4 met three
great fat negro women
Grandfather laughed himself into fit of
coughing, and it was some time before he
coud make out to say, well, have not they as
good right to dress Bloomer fashion as you,
pray:'
Yes said Alice, still indignant, but they
had no right to speak to me-
Did they speak to you? What did they have
to say"
Allcc related it reluctantly, and the recital
cost Grandfather another fit of coughing. His
excessive enjoyment of her discontinue began
at last to amuse her, and she laughed too, doing
this the more readily as her mother was wise
enough not even to SMILE
What did they have on? ? inquired Grand
mother.
Blue and yellow said Alice, rousing up
again; 'and such an outrage on good taste kills
the thing. You do not know how badly they
looked and then TO top off with, they wore
slashng hats; am not sure but one Of them
carried cane.
his is just the trouble with it, said Aices
mother, 1T cannot be made genteel because la
dies OF taste will not adopt it,
No, SAID Grandmother, there is no way of
making it genteel but to have it become fash
lonable at Paris.
Pray said Grandfather. must we 80 to Paris
Tor leave to tie our apron etrings:'
we shall 60 to Paris remarked the old ladv,
Just as long as Paris gives laws to the world Of
fashion, and the French will rue here as long
as they surpuss all other nation in exquisite
taste in the matter Of dress. That they do so
we must acknowled !e, and it is right enough
that we should for we have taste to appreciate
the beautiful if we have not to invent it,
'Once make the thing gented then, and YOU
think it will GO" said Grandfather.
Yes, this would 60, and so would almost anv
other fashion, rep led Grandmother. But fash.
icnable or not, think there is no need of such
a revolution in woman's dress We had good
health and are having good old age without
It, Let our children be sensible eaough to
make DIRE $ bend to health and comfort, and they
need not put on trowsers to keep out Of the
doctors hands.
But the world is growing wiser every wear,
Grandmother said Alice, shaking her head
I'VE mean to improve upon the past and we
mean to rectify all their mistakes, and 50 we
begin with thorough revolution IN wonans
dress
Ne are doing grea, things sld Grandfather,
tapping the rosy cheek; 'iDe mean 70 reform the
void, do not we?
Yes, zoe do,' said Alice. never needing the
old gentleman's banter and there is room for
it, am sure. We are determined not to carry
about any longer such an abominable wcirh,
OF clothes,-nor to have our arms longer PIN
ioncd,-nor to strap in our waists so we cannot
breathe,--nor to mop the streets longer with
silk. We have just as good ri ght TO our
liberty as the gentlemen have, and liberty we
can have IN the Bloomer dress, as YOU would
know, if you could only try both. There il is
too bad, that some lady who can make the
thing genteel. out of compassion to her SEX
should not hnlp US. Victoria or Jenny Lind
might
A ring at the door startled Alice, and she
ran to change the desirable costume which she
had been so eoquently defending.
What shall do with the child said her
mother, as the door closed upon her. i never
saw such an Independent piece in my life. She
thinks she can do anything and vet, when it
fairly comes to the point, she is as tmd as ary
other young girl, and has to force hersefthrn'
with what she has undertaken. do not know
what she will come to-
If she never comes to anything worse than
little Boomer replied her Granifather, she
will not come TO any thin very bad think
she is in the right of it, and all the res, of them,
and heartily wish them SUGGEST SO saving,
he hobbled after his pet.
That is just it now, remarked her mother
he upholds her in all her freaks, and cannot
do anything with her; she is her Grandfather
all over again
well. do not know, said the Grandmother
to ON this remark was addressed, i do not
know but what the Bloomer costume is a good |
fashion for young, growing girls; they ought
not to be encunlbred with the long heavy
clothes of the present day. do not think |
should object to their adopting it; but would
not tell Alice so, for she is so fond of gong