The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-06-18
THE NEW FEMALE COSTUME.

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THE NEW FEMALE COSTUME.
The new Costume for the ladies is being
largely discussed in the public journals, in
both grave and gay style. To hear some
| people talk of this new Dress, one would
almost think that lis success involved a
resort 10 the first principles by which the
millinery and mantua-making bills of our
common mother Eve were governed
This is all u mistake, however, and no
prejudice should result therefrom to Mrs.
Bloomer, who first took it into her pretty
head to ''enlarge the liberty of her sex.
She has immortalized her name, and the
Bloomer costume may yet, perhaps, be-
come as famous as the Mary Stuart cap,
or the Elizabe,han ruff, or the Pompadour
robe. Who knows!
In regard TO the graver aspect Of the
case, an intelligent physician, in the Bos-
ton Journal, who is competent 10 speak
from book as well as observation. comes
out strongly in favor of some such change
as highly necessary to health and care.
and respectable heads Of families do the
same in some quarters. The remarks OF
the Boston physician are quite juGicous,
and he begs those ladies. who entertain the
intention Of being pioneers in this reform,
to be deliberate, and not to iijure what is
good, and prejudice many against their
cause, by carressness OF taste, or by 60
ing to unnecessary extremes On the
score of convenience and health, the
writer says:-BaH. Sun.
III acould be more healthy-partlcular-
ly if the reform were carried step fur
ther. and dress for the waist adopted, in
which lady could pick cherries without
splitting sleeve off, and play at battle
door without an expenditure Of hooks and
eyes. The material could be better adapt
ed TO the season. 1t could therefore be
made cooler in summer, and warmer in
winter, than at present The trousers
would be the essential part Of the habitual
dress; the skirt an addition for grace and
propriety. Comfort, therefore, would not
require change OF the latter as is now
necessary; while with the former at little
trouble, Iand therefore not so liable to be
neglected as now,) muslin might give way
to merino, or this to cassimer, to suit a
momentary demand of out door exercise,
or a change in the weather. Damp skirts
hanging, as is often the case, for the hour,
about the feet and ankles, would be done
away with; whilst the latter, clad in an
appropriate boot, would be as Independent
of the weather as those Of the men. A
still further, and possibly more important
consideration, under this head, is the fol-
lowing, to which | ask especial attention.
Either to obtain the necessary warmth, or
to attain greater elegance of form, the
skirts now worn are multiplied greatly in
number, besides being of heavy material.
weighing-though it may astonish some Of
my lady readers themselves when say it
10, 12 and l3 pounds! All this weight is
supported by the hips alone, producing
two serious evils: First, the drawing
strings around the waist have to be very
tight, to prevent the skirts from slipping
down; and thus compression is produc-
ed and continually kept up, which must
embarrass the organs within the exercise
of their functions. But, besides This
source Of trouble, the weight Of the skirts
is continually operating to force down.
wards the organs within, only recovered
by the partially resistant but plant walls
of the abdomen. The advantage, tech
nicaIly speaking, with which this weight
acts, would be readily understood by any
one having knowledge Of mechanics,
and, when understood, the frequency of
those distressing affections peculiar to the
sex, is perfectly OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
which seem to make half our women pre-
maturelv aged, and entail on many an
existence to which death would be prefer
able. It's no wonder, under this view Of
the case, that there should be such de.
mand for abdominal supporters and va.
riauslv contrived trusses, nor for the in
efficiency Of such contrivances when they
have to act, not simply against the gravl-
ty of the organ they are intended to sup
port, but against the downward pressure
of weight so placed as to act mechani-
cally to the utmost advantage"
The ladies must of course consider this
matter for themselves. But the "Turks
are at our DOORS" it seems, already. The
Washington Telegraph of yesterday, in
referring to the contemplated display at
the Capitol on Wednesday, Of the Turk
ish female dress, says:
sit is stated to-day, as fact, that two
young ladies attired in the costume were
near the grounds in hack, but, on re-
fection, they declined to emerge and pre-
sent themselves for exhibition before so
many impatient spectators.
CONCORD, N. Y. June II.
The Democratic State Convention yes
terday nominated Levi Woodbury., OF