New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-07
- A PLEA FOR DRESS REFORM.


SIR Since the range Of journalism legitimate'y en-
braces facts and opinions sregard to dress it was most
appropriate that you should give it passing remark
Criticism, in its widest significance is school wherein
all are both teachers and learners it is constant in
auence which human beings reciprocaly impart and
receive whenever they come in contact it detects
and anatomizes our fobes and faults, and is hence
| stimulus to amendment and improvement, BY which
we should ever thankfully profit. Even waen crsi-
cism reaches u.s. az it too often does alleged by undS
nifed or malicious feeling, rather than to contempt
uously assume our own nfallbity, is better to qu
etly heed its admonition, if such it have for U.s.
Yet experience has proved that more than satire
and sermonizing are needfu to remove the obectona
BILE as it pertains to costume. Style in dress is an in
cident of which the underlying facts are found IN the
natural aste the education and consequent ideai OF
the individual adopting it. When the education
of Woman is such as to awaken high perception
of the beautiful wherever it exists that perception
which requires an early study and application OF
the principles Of form, OF harmony ana o. artistic
adaptatonthat perception which is gained by an In;
innate knowledge of nature, as she ccaseessiy and
perfectly works for through all the ages-that per-
cepon which is completed only in clear apPrehen-
sion Of and obedience to moral truthin word when
Woman position secures to her, without exception,
that varied culture, and that moral and mental de-
velopment which is necessarily most rare we may
safely assert that Apparel will become an exponent
of the character OF the wearer, never violating ths
laws of propriey grace utility. The expression OF
taste in dress may thus be, the lilies Ut the
field in their unfolding free from vanity, which seeks
effect as an end yet charms by its exquisite and un-
Not having yet attained TO ths estate, We unquee
toningly receive the modes they promulgated
by the high priests of fashion, and adopt them en- asse
al with aacrity, each fearing lest she become
conspicuous by an imperfect compliance. Hence,
because We have not acquired the moral and intel
ecua power necessary to erect and rely upon an IN
dividual standard Of what is appropriate, becoming
and most servceable, are, uncOnscously enough,
perhaps, in servitude to the opinions OF other.
Whatever is really tasteful to-day, cannot be other
wise next year. and, with regard to economy and COM
fort well az appearance can he worn as such, with
out the painstaking and extravaganza OF r1nodeng
and replacing.
So long as the universe holds truths whose mystery
asks solution, and the knowledge Of which are the
ordained steps toward angelic wisdom, so long as dis
cord and suffering have fOOhold on EARTH 90 long will
there be better aims than those which Fashion can
present TO employ the thoughts and energies OF
Woman Therefore say, all honor to those women
who have had the moral courage to cOnscientously
adopt new costume. who have thus taken the init
stOry step in denying tho supremacy OF fashion, and
in asserting the tanscendent claims of physiological
law If some believe it possible to construct and
wear long skirts that they will better the ends
of health than those made Ia Dloomer it is sincerely
hoped they will make failure in the undertaking;
nor will it be needful for the Boomers to constitute
themselves dynasty, and declare them to be out
sders in the knowledge aud practice Of hygiene.
For although short gown is greatly preferable in the
active vacations Of life to long one it is not neces-
sary the ultimate of excellence and des,rableness for
all fines or for all persons. While we cannot hope
that generation will realize the conditions implied
in the exercise of ust tastes and individual styles of
dress, it behoOves to do what may for our own
release from the tyranny Of fashion, remembering that
what do thus for ourselves will be done hundred
fold more for the daughters who will hereafter M our
places A. Z. L. n.
Pleasant Lake, Ind, June a. 1857.
Very well: but why not wear such dress az
you see ft, and say nothing about it, We like the
Bloomer costume well enough; but is the fashion
Of any ones dress worth so much talk as we hear
about Dress Reformi GEd.