The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1851-07-16
From tho New York Tribune.
The New Costume.

/ From tho New York Tribune.
The New Costume.
PANTALooNs as. PETnCoATs.-In your
Considerations concerning Clothes" which
appeared in the Tribune of the 18th instant
you show that the long flowing garments
hitherto worn by dignitaries both in Church
and State, are being laid aside, and that now
Dukes, Priests and Emperors prefer wear
ing the simple citizens dress, except on ex-
Itraordinary occasions. You assign no par
ticular reason for this, but think it has been
done from kind of instinct.
Now, Sir, l think this laying aside of the
cumbersome flowing robe can be easily and
reasonably accounted for. No man who is
accustomed to freedom Of person and limbs
will long bear the restraint imposed by an
uncomfortable dress. No one who has been
fused to the comfortable, convenient, close
fitting attire worn by men, can feel at ease
with legs muffled in long robe, and arms
held in a proper position for sustaining its
loose, flowing sleeves. Can it be thought
strange then, that Dukes, Priests, Judges
and Emperors should prefer rather to dis
pense with the "badge of authority" than to
suffer the loss of freedom of motion? To
my eye there is much more of dignity and
superiority in the appearance of him who is
richly attired in a citizens dress, than in
him of the long robe; for the latter calls up
the image of a woman in aaigM gowa, except
that the night gown has more simple and
easy look. think it is solely owing to the
inconvenience and discomfort of the full
flowing drapery that is so rapidly disap-
pcaring among men. We, who have discar-
ded long skirts and tasted the blessings of
freedom, can well imagine how i'll at ease
one must feel who has ever enjoyed perfect
freedom of action, when compelled to enyel-
ope himself at time in the cumbersome fct-
ters of the long robe.y. Not even desire to
command respect for s'superior and sacred
functions will induce men to bear this yoke
of slavish ambition In sickness the long
calico wrapper is WELL for both man and wo-
man, but at no other time is the long dress
becoming to him, or useful to her; on the
contrary it is for both inconvenient and un-
comfortable, and to women in the highest
degree injurious.
There is much said and written Just now
about woman's dress. Editors seem to think
it their especial business to settle the ques-
ton. how long we may, and how long we
may not wear our skirts; and they have en-
tered into the discussion with spirit which
i should be glad to see manifested on some
other subjects lying more Immediately with
in their province. In my opinion, women
are the most proper persons to decide upon
the style of their costume; and | doubt not
their good sense will guide them Alright in
the manner and prevent their doing aught
to shock the modesty, or wound the feelings
of the truly sensible and high-minded,
Many seem to think that if we shorten our
dresses just enough to permit them to pass
over cigar stubs, tobacco juice, and other
filth, that is all that is necessary to be done.
You, Sir, believe, entertain that opinon.---I
But we who know from experience the evils
of long skirts-eyen though they may fall not
lower than the ankle and the blessings of
shot ones, cannotagree with those who think
thus The longer the dress, the greater the
quantity ofunderskirts needed to give us a
good figure; the shorter the dress the great
er the number and weight dispensed with.
five wear long dresses, we must from
necessity wear considerable amount of un-
derclothing; for even ladyin short dress
and trowserS does not sppear SO decidedly
immodest and vulgar, as does she witha long
one clinging close to her form, and whipping
about her limbs. By shortening our skirts
two or three inches we might save them wp-
ing up filth from the street, but they are just
as cumbersome and crippling as the longer
ones; whereas by shortening them nearly to
the knee we not only give freedom and elias
ITCHY to our limbs, but relieve ourselves of
the undue weight hitherto suspended from the
waist.
We may look more graceful in the drag
ging skirt, but we feel more graceful in the
short one. e 't haaa2
The only question in regard to the new
costume should be as to its utility; and there
are enough of who can speak from expert
ence on that point. Custom will make any
dress look well; and already to my eye the
american short dress and trowsers appears
more truly graceful and genteel, than the
long, mopping, Gripping drapery. Yours
truly 7'a. a AMELIA BLooMER. vi
Seneca Falls, N, Y, June 10, 1876 f.
n .... II 4 u.