Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-10-22
GNurtestrr Daily Spp.
FOR THE LADIES oNLY-FULL DREss


There is a certain practical, modified and
by no means immOdest Bloomersm rapidlv
gaining ground among the English ladies-es-
pecially among those belonging to the elite of
aristocracy-when travelling on the continent.
This consists of the darling little Spanish
nat, now so popular at our watering places,
regular gentleman's sack oyercoat, with pock-
cts in the sides. and comfortable short black
dresses without hoops. In some parts of Eu-
rope and the East where men wear long, bag
ging, fredericksburg breeches, it is said to be
difficult TO distinguish them-at little dis
lance, be it understood these fair daugh-
tiers of Albion.
We wonder if the day will ever come when
American ladies, in travelling, will ever "come
up to the eXigencies of the case" VIII they
when incarcerated in railroad trains-especial-
ly on those which allow about eighteen inches
to two passengers-lay aside those crclets of
dignity, vulgarly known as hoops, to be re-
sumed In more fitting pluces Not as yet we
fear. AT present the lorette style of full dress
upon all occasions is all the rage in this coun-
try, among all classes. In France and England
he really refined, those who occupy decided
ly superior station, as regards BIRTH education,
and association, do not indulge in all the glo-
rles OF crinoline, silk, and light kids, save on
"dress" occasions. 1t must be admitted that
only one who is very truly lady can afford to
do this. The lorette-for all flashy women
are III appearance and style lorettish, no mat
ter how nominally virtuous they may be
cannot afford to lay aside her gorgeous ar
ray. She must be gay or nothing, for she, in
her ignorance and want of cultivated feeling
sees no difference between simplicity and
meanness.
Our American women are not as morally
corrupt as the class in Europe who dress fully
on all occasions, but they have most unluckily
adopted the uniform of the unfortunate sister
Rood by sporting "the latest Paris fashions"
from morning to night, at home and abroad,
here, there, and everywhere. In preparing to
travel thousand miles by railroad and stage,
a colossal crinOline is not omttetl-we have
seen diamond and open brooches in company
with muslin de berege, and seven bracelets on
one arm, at a hotel breakfast table. And
though there are many ladies who would not
be guilty of such absurdites, it is still true that
vast majority of very respectable women
are the rule and not the exception in such mat
tiers.
We are not making war on crinoline, or
fashion, or gay dresses, or even Paris modes,
but we wish that there should always be an
dpropoS use of such things. We wish that
there were here dignifed and refined class
who would dress only on such occasions and
show themselves superior to the endless, petty
devotion to lorettisms from morning till night
1t indicates small mind to be always en- qra2de
toilette, or miserable notifications of it. And
there would be an immense advantage in the
existence OF such class of truly superior
women. In Europe, where a system of castles
prevails, the flashy and lorettsh woman is sat
isfed to be ,chdt she is, and to admit the exist
ence OF superior class. Here no one toler.
ates with patience the realization of social SUI
periority.
If American ladies of wealth and education
would lay aside hoops when travelling or at
home, If they would keep silks and iewelry for
the opera and grand soirees, and distinguish
themselves by the nobIeness and independence
OF simplicity on all occasions where simplicity
is really proper we should soon see the whole
country treading in their footsteps At pres
ent they too generally follow, not the first
class Paris fashions, but the Paris fashion
plates. Our Travelled danes know what Nine
la Duches lie Blague wore at ball of the Tuil-
cries, but they do not know what she wore at
home the day after They know what the la
test fashionable coors, makes, and materials
are, but they do not know uhen to wear them
1t is a thing worth considering. Any person
who has thought Oft this summer, while trav-
cling, any one who has seen hoops catching in
railroad car DOORS and dresses ammed while
sitting down, has doubtless wished that some
comfortable conventional travelling dress
would be admitted, constructed without the
faintest reference to Eugenies last public ap-
pearance, and notat all recalling Mile. Celestine
de Montmorency of the Rue Breda.
We claim no special merit for originality as
regards the above suggestions. They have all
been made before by highly intelligent and
refined women, and simply express the views
of all American ladies who see this mat
ter in its true light, and are DESTROYS Of ra-
tionat reform in dress Unfortunately, ours is
land of extremes. Either one must strut as
bantam-egged Boomer, with scollops around
the ankles, down Broadway or Chestut street,
at noon, or else in full crinoline from the ris-
ing OF the sun unto the going down of the
same. We are all extremists, for that matter,
men, as well as women, and an important ee-
ment in all our reforms should be to choose the
juste miLiem. VirtuS in medio-the right course
is the moderate PHILADELPHIA Bulletin.