The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-08-14

Mrs. Bloomer speak for herself. Below is an
extract of letter written by her to the n. Y.
Tribune.
s'AIany seem to think 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, 1
believe, entertain that opinion. But we who
know from experience the evils of long skirts
even though they fall no lower than the ankle
and the blessings of short ones, can
not agree with those who think thus The
longer the dress, the greater the quantity of
underskirts needed to give a good figure;
the shorter the dress the greater the number
and weight dispensed with.
If we wear long dresses, we must from ne
cessity wear considerable amount of under
clothing; for even lady in short dress and
trousers does not appear SO decidedly immodest
and vulgar, as does she with long one cling
ing close to her form, and whipping about her
limbs. By shortening our skirts two or three
inches we might save them wiping 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 elasticity to our limbs, but re-
lieve ourselves of the undue weight hitherto
suspended from the waist
We may look more graceful in the dragging
skirt, but we feel more graceful in the short
one.
The only question in regard to the new cos
tune, should be as to its utility; and there are
enough of us who can speak from experience
on that point Custom will make any dress
look well; and already, to my eye, the Auseri-
can short dress and trousers appears more truly
graceful and genteel than the long, hopping,
crippling drapery."
We now ask Sancho to read the opinion of q
physician on the subject of the new dress:-
"But I have stronger reasons-professional
and scientifc-for siding with the reformers
among which are the following-the use of long
dresses, implies, general thing, the use of
stays, thus leading to consumption and host
of other diseases; the use of said ungainly
costume is incompatible with exercise, to any
extent, and therefore tends to injury of the
muscular system, as well as of the nervous and
circulatory. The quantity of skirt and prodi-
gality Of under-garments infallibly destroys the
figure, and frequently induces lumbar abscess, or
general spinous affection. The un-dewy fluids
and un-Lubinized extracts collected by the long
flowing garments and from them in part trans
mitted to the inferior portion of the lower ex-
tremities, throws back the blood from the sur
face of the skin, thus engendering cold and its
many distressing and fatal results.
1 do not wish Woman to unsex herself. But
she may become rational without becoming
masculine. 'Is she not rational them one
cries; answer, She has reason surely, but she
does not exercise it at present Reason and
long skirts could not be co-existent; Reason
and draggle-tails are sternly opposed. Reason
does not admit the legitimacy Of boddiees
(ughtly laced) and is foe to artificial disease
on principle. Reason considers a sound body
preferable to "Grecian bend, and prefers
being in good health to being in the fashion In
the name of reason, then, loosen the tay-strings
and shorten the skirts
Does Sancho still think the New Costume
unsuitable for an enlightened" womang Does
SanchO mean TO say that none but ignorant la
dies have adopted the Bloomer costumeg s.And
since it is clearly proved" says he, ''that nei-
ther health nor comfort are advanced by il, no
lady Of good taste would lay aside the graceful
and dignifed long dress for the doll baby attire
of Mrs. Bloomer-" How exceedingly modest /!
Has Mrs. Bloomer no tastes Clear proofs /,
Where are they? Will Sancho give us his idea
Of the physicians opinion We quote, and then
say whether the Bloomer costume is only s'doll
baby attire? l particularly invite the atten-
ton of the reader to Sanchos closing remarks
And, Oh, gentle readerl did you ever read any
thing more sublime? Sancho no doubt imagined
that he had wife-a disciple of Mrs Bloomer
and that he was treated badly. Oh, ye gods
and little fishes! Let not Sancho's fate be that
which fitted across his Imagination, when he
bowed at the shrine of anti -Bloomerism. MAY
he have gentle, loving wife, one after the i'm
age Of his own heart, one that will look with
horror upon the friends of the New Costume,
and though she may be able to wear the ssbree-
ches" in petticoats, and smoke cigars, play
cards, sc. Dear Editor, here leave the sub
ject with you and your readers,
By remaining, ANXIOUS.
DIR. Ryder and the Union.