Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-09-04
Selette0 Mllstellanp.
Prom the London Times August 2.
Great Anti-CrinoIine Meeting i'm LOn-
don.

don.
1t is not generally known that great meeting
was held yesterday afternoon. at o'clock, at the
Hanover Square rooms, for the purpose of inau-
guratng movement against the use of crinolne,
in consequence of numerous deaths by fire which
have been caused by it. No reporters were ad-
mtted in the first instance, and it was only on
making promise not to mention the names of the
speakers that the writer of this report was per
mtted to rcmain in the room, to which he accident
ally gained admission. The hour at which the
meeting was held was somewhat late, but as the
morning concert of distinguished artistic had
been fixed for o'clock p. NJ, it could not be
held earlier. The attendance of ladies of rank
and fashion were numerous. The admission was
by vouchers which were countersigned by the lady
patroneSs of Almack's.
The proceedings were commercially the Ouch
ess of A, who, on coming forward, stated that
the duties which she had the honor to fulfill, pla-
cling her in immediate attendance on the highest
lady in the land, she had received her M-y's
command to summon the present meeting. / un-
derstand, her Grace continued, that it is in conse
quence expected that should preside over your
deliberations, and. therefore, without waiting for
any more formal proceeding, | will at once take
the chair. / have it also in command from her
Ny to say that the dreadful loss of life which
is so frequently occurring in consequence Of the
use of crinoline has greatly afflicted her RI
heart, and that her Ny earnestly desired that
your deliberations may result in the adoption OF
some means by which the recurrence or such fre-
quent calamIties may be averted. / have it fur
ther in commission to say that her Ny is pre-
pared to cooperate in any measures which it may
be thought desirable to adopt. | will not pretend
that this meeting has been called without any
consultation as to what proposals it would be ad-
visable to submit to you for your considera-
ton. / have had much conversation with the
Duchess of B., and some other ladies on the sub
ject, and | will now call upon her Grace to state
her views and to submit resolution for your
adoption.
The Duchess of B. said:
feel highly flattered bv being permitted to take
prominent part in so laudablea movement. The
horrible tortures to which so many ladies of all
classes have been subjected by ignition of that
article of female apparel known by the name of
crinoline, and the mental agony of their friends
and relatives appear to render it imperative upon
us to take some proper action, with the object of
preventing the recurrence of such accidents in the
future. Various methods have been suggested
which the material may be made fire proof, but it
appears to me there none Of them calculated
efectually to meet the evil We cannot depend
on the proper application of chemical agents for
this purpose, and / confess / think there is only
one remedy, viz: the abolition alto yether of the
steel hoops and springs in which ladies now en-
veop themselves. The melancholy deaths of the
of Mrs. Brodhurst the wife of a London physi-
clan, have made profound impression on my mind
and have formed a resolution not to hesitate at
any sacrifice which may be required to prevent
the recurrence of calamities so shocking to every
humane mind. As my opinions are embodied in
the resolution which shall have the honor to
submit to you. shall not occupy your time fur
ther than by reading the resolution. 1t is as fol-
lows:
"That this meeting, deeply sympathzing with
those persons who have lost their lives by the ia
king fire of their dresses, expanded to an unnatu-
raj extent by the of steel or other hoops is of
the opinion that no remedy is efectual short of
complete abandonment of such an article Of wear
ing apparel, and pledges itself accordingly to ban
ish it henceforth from their toilets
Mingled murmurs of appreciation and disap-
prevail
The Marchioness of c. said she fully agreed
in every word that had been said by her noble
friend. and most cordially seconded the resolu-
ton.
Lady d. said that though she was fully
aware of the fatal effects of wearing crinoline, as
il was called, she thought il open to every in
divdual to abandon its if they thought proper.
Lady Z. said that she did not remember an in
starce in which lady of high rank had met her
death in consequence of the use of the article in
question. For her part she never sealed her own
letters, bus gave them to her maid to seal for her
and II that person chose 10 envelop herself in
fimsy material il at her own risk, and she
(Lady E. did not see that she was called upon TO
make so great a sacra6ce merely TO SAGE a person
in that station Of life from the consequences her
canify and IOUe Of dress.
Baroness Z. said that the difficulty that ladies
Of all ranks felt was this: that if they simply re-
sorted 10 a more rational mode of dressing they,
would he the objects Of remark and ridicule to all
those-and they were the vast majority-who had
not the moral courage to disregard the prevailing
fashion. She herself must confess that she should
not like to be the only one among her circle OF
acquaintance to adopt less dangerous mode OF
attire
The Dutchess Of A. said that was precisely he1
own feeling, and that the gracious lady under
whose command she had acted in convening the
meeting was prepared to take the lead in change
of fashion, if she were certain that the example
wo-ld be extensively followed.
Viscounfess @. expressed her perfect concur
renee with the resolution which had been proposed
and her readnes to adopt new style Of dress, Iso
soon as the example was set by those in higher
station than herself.
The Marchioness of H. wished to know whether