The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-02-15

LADIES DRESSES IN MUDDY WEATHER-It is an
unpleasant sight to see the ladies in the streets on
rainy days, allow their dresses to trail in the mud
inns Is unpardonable There is no improperly in
raising the skirts high enough to keep them out of
the dirt; there is very unladylike prudery in re-
fusing to raise them slightly when cleanliness re-
quires 1T. 1t is not necessary, however, for any
lady TO hold her dress with her hands to keep it
out OF the mud. The English women, says an Eu-
ropean writer understand these things better than
we, go out walking in rain and mud, wearing long
dresses, and without taking their hands from their
muffs, come home with the clothing as cleanly as
when they started out. How do they do it? They
wear skirts that do not reach lower than the ankle;
short enough, in fact, to keep clear of the mud
without any lifting. The dress is worn long, but
Is looped up when the lady is in the street. The
loops are late invention, and are now the fashion
IN Great Britain. woman who should 90 out in
muddy weather without them would be considered
prude. They are made thus:
There is bel. OF black ribbon, three quarters of
an inch wide, and long enough to go round the
lady's waist, with hook at one end and an eye at
the other, as fastening; piece of the same kind
OF ribbon, three yards long, is attached to the end
and the middle of the belt. The belt is now put on
with the hook and eye in front; and hanging down
on each side is loop of black ribbon, three-quar-
tiers of yard long. When the lady is about to
60 out, she puts on her belt and puts part of the
lower portion of her dress through each loop hich
is thus raised into four festoons and ali of it is
above the lower edge of the pettcoat She then
walks out with her hands free, her dress clean, and
her conscience at ease; and if she ishes to enter
house. she can take her dress out of the loops in an
instant. The looped dress is not only clean but
graceful, and it shows white petticoat, one of the
most beautiful articles of ladies' apparel to much
advantage. In England, however, white petit
coat is not considered Indispensable; on the con-
trary, scarlet wooden petticoats are much worn
by most fashionable people, az also are red
wooden stockings, Indeed, the white cotton stock
ings are the exception and not the rule for London
wear 10 winter. Wool Is ordinarily worn, some.
times scarlet or scarlet with black stripes or plaid
with a variety cf coinrs And then, the shoes are
not of thin cloth with paper soles, but Balmoral
boots, with heavy uppers and thick soles acing up
In front, as If they made for beings of flesh and
blood bred on roast beef and good for real service
hard work, sturdy health and long life. Our Anne
rican women are too much in the habit of follow
ing bad fashions, and neglecting good ones If
they will just adopt the healthfui practices, as
well as the expensive Injuries, of European aris-
tocracy, it will be far better, as well as more cred
liable to them. We are glad to see, however, that
a correct taste is being exercised by our ladies'
They study health and comfort more than the FASH
ions, and may expect TO see them as rosy-cheek-
Cd and robust as any Of our English cousns.-Homs
Journal.