The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1851-07-10

some Thoughts on q New Subject:
Heretofore we have spoken Of the Turkish
costume Tor ladies in ridicule, but as the fash
ion promises to become the fashion in lim-
ted manner, we are disposed for once to treat
it civiIIy and seriously. In various cities in
every part Of the country, we hear Of ladies
either attending parties OF perambulatng
the streets dressed in the BIoomer costume,
as Il is called. This proves that the ladies
are at least determined to try the experiment,
and obtain ublic verdict on the subject
Now we are very wiling to accommodate
the ladies' in trifes, or even in 90 important
a matter as wearing the breeches, so they
don't take ours-but we do view this new
fashion as stepping beyond the pale of true
modesiy, and in nine cases out often outrag-
ing good taste.
First, in regard to good taste. No lady will
look well IN the costume who has large feet
or elephanic ANGLES, and both rather con-
sltule failing in the majority Of American
born AMI particularly Western ladies' No
lady vino has coarse or tall figure can look
well in the costume. To suit the fashion, we
regard it az indispensable that the wearer
should have neat and petite shape. small
foot and we'll turned ANGLE The costume itself
seems TO embody soul of its own. Itseems
to belong to the aerial, the versatile, the gay
There is nothing Serious about it-there is
nothing old about 1t. Sobriety or ancient
maidrnhood rugged out IN This costume world
be laughablc. The wearer must carry out
the idea of the ccsiume-and anything else
| is an outrage of good taste. Now, according
to our humble opinion, there are not more
than half dozen ladies in Evansville, and
our ladies will compare in beauty and ap.
pearance with those Of almost any other place
of its size, who will look well in the Turkish
cos,ume-better than they would look in
their own present neat style Of dress. Where
the public would be charmed with the APP
pearance OF one our ladies' dressed in the
new style, il would he disg dsted with the des-
ecration Of good taste in ten others thus be-
Turked.
We do not think the new dress modest
We fear that men will lose for those who
adopt it, that distant, respectful and enrhu-
siastic love. which. MS cot, mporary says, is
a stronger protection to the honor OF women
than all the lawsof the land. The peculiar
tiles of feminine attire are well fitted TO mark
the difference Of sex AMI change in this attire
sucl, as Is proposed, must operate TO diminish
that shrinking and sensitive delicacy, which
preserves woman from wrong more than
her principles. and which adorns her more
than any fashion Of garmsnt. Women are
differently formed from men, Tor ply Biological
reasons. A writer oil some merit remarks
s. the outward appearance oil woman differs
vastly from man, and no transformation, no
Disguise can even for an instant shroud her
sex from the most casual gaze" We may add
that every woman is unfortunately KNOCK
kn.ed "a peculiarly arising from her phys
ical conform ,tion, and seeming naturally to
call for the modest and flowing garb in pres
ent use, which while it conceals the d-iects OF
her figure, relieves and exalIs it's beauiies.-
The new cos, ume would incontnently bare
10 the purient eye Of the vulgar, the leas; at
iraciive details Of her person, and sacrifice all
the wavy lines Of beauty that mark the grace
fol attire in which they now fiscinate instead
Of vu'garize the lima gination. and crafty
taste. No garb can be modest for woman,
which humors the imaginaiions of the vulgar.
We may talk Of false modesty and stigma
tise as such what may be considered an ex-
cess OF delicacy. but true modesty will never
oIunteer assistance to the revels Of imagina-
tons TOO prone already to brutalIze in thought
that which was intended TO angelze our ma
lures. The exceeding short skirts he light
trousers exhibiting with every movement or
brush Of wind. the shape the leg, the barred
ANGLE. all tend TO set at work the grosser i'm
agnations, and separate from woman thai
deliracy of thought and even Of attention.
which she has always claimed in the modest
attire so distinctly marking her sex and so
appropriate TO true w"mauly modesty.
How the new costume can be more condu-
Give TO health than the old is not easily un-
derstood, when there is 10 change in the com
pressure Of The waist or it's formation. nor in
the multiplicity Of skirts. Neither will the
expense Of the garment be less, because
what 10 lost in quantity OF material is amply
made up in the cost of paniale.s. 1t will not
10 Tor ladies wearing the new costume to br
indifferent as TO the nicely OF their under
clothes, because the shortness of the dress
will permit Of ample opportunities not now
allowed, for gentlem,nIy and critical obser-
walton. Blu, the FUNNIEST idee is CONNECTED
!, with the down-siIiings and up-rsings OF the
short killed damsels. What hiichng and