New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-05-20
The short Dress" Question.
SYRACUSE, Monday, Nay s.

70 tie Editors = t. T'jme.
In reply to an article appearing Ia your Daily
Of April 20, We are grsti6ed to state tia. the sab
jec; which is now being urgently discussed by
the faIhonists Of this place IS indeed, The short
dresses Il taxes the lead o. all else that might
be MISUNDERSTANDING amusement to some .
the opposing a fair chance for ridicale; in others
awakening sober and intelligent consideration
Of the subject in a physiological point Of view
Some few Of the weaker sex, casting aside their
natural timidity, have manifested unblGshing
hard hood 10 daring, spite OF wind and weather
sneers and inuendoes, to appear in our streets
and go about their daily avocations with strong
effort not to b. discouraged. The only regret is
that SO few, as yet venture to exercise their dis.
creiion on the subject Of health Il is painful to
see souauy e that sex, who ought 70 be she pi.
lota IN every good cause, still 81 tightly huggiug
their old foies In fact, the strongest opposition
cone 5 t-om those = dOm 1t IS the most adapted 10
benefit
The opposite sex would soon come round il it
were rot for tne ladies' themselves. The few that
have dared to cast aside their endless train of
pettcoGts and, simply clad IN tOl. TO TEers with
short and seHders6irts bodice and bones driven
20 the shsdesl veutuTiug TO uso the freedom thus
"
are ridiculed by some, laughed et BY m0ss, and
accused of an indicate desire - attract the pub
bic gaze for the SAX OF making themselves prom.
inert by their 16ularitics, while modest mat
rous look most sus piciOusly upon the sacrliesous
innovation, and regard their younger sisters with
uuteisued contempt for presumin5 90 teach, wha.
has never been taugh. before, that individual
Womsn should Judge and acs IN and for herself;
and older danes Tool. on imagining, ia their eX-
cess Of wisdom, that wha. never has been never
can be.
This is Kind Of opposition, coming wh'nce il
does that cannot fail Of having some weight " IN
tre modest portion OF the sex, who blush 20 IN
trude upo, that which has been so long consld-
cred essential and indispensable. Ridicule aud
sneers can be borne because they will pass away
with the beings who utter them, but 10 be c0oIy
accused of wanting in modesty, and OF repre-
hensIble freedom IN action, by those who are
placed ~ natural guardians over uf, IS CALLING to
the sensitive minds OF most females.
DO not assert, Sir Editor, that short dresses
have passed into d fashion among u.s. for il IL not
So Those who wear them do so IN spite OF OPP
posing iabhons-it being here, as well as IN your
famous City, the present mode 20 trail tue dress
suOn the ground all intermediate lengths 20 that
o. hRlty ard. But, in the face OF many Ike 40
surdities, a few presume to mark out path ioE
Themselves, leaving the world 70 gag on, pleased
or otherwise. .
We concedo that It is not at all times aud ia all
places n graceful dress and should not attempt 70
wear it on ali occRs onS bat il is prominently
usrti IS Il walking costume TOR tho carrier part
Of the day-Nlso as a working dre.,. for ali who
presume 70 help themselves Ia this every day
world We think slfo that il might be made ex
trem6'y pretty and graceful as an evening cos
tune. particularly for parties where dancing ID in
order.
In REGARD 10 the style OF making lille can be
said. Probably the best v sy Is To- make plated
front and back, the garment setting loose round
the form. with a belt OF the same material insert.
Ell somew hat alter the fashion OF waists made for
to,s, full trowsers Of the same, confined by
narrow band about the ankle lull apron, Of
zone farciul description, forms graceful add
tion The whole can DO completed by plain
linen collar about the throat Syracuse.
P.s-Cou.d picture to your view. Nr. Editor,
ort 10 the eyes OF our New.York fasni0nal les the
exooisitoly simple and graceful appearance OF a
couple Of lsues now passing my window, with
stolt dresses, trowSerS and hsts, they would
surely be willing 20 follow suit-ior more capti-
waiting dress WAC never looked upon. ..