Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-03-30
Ladies Dresses IN Muddy Weather.

1t is an unpleasant sight to see ladies'
in the streets, on rainy days, allow their
dresses to trail in the mud. There is
no improperly in raising the skirts high
enough to keep them out OF the
dirt; there is very nnladyIike prudery
in refusing to raise them slightly when
cleanliness requires it. 1t is not neces-
sary, however, for any lady to hold her
dress with her hands to keep it out Of
the mud. The English woman, says All
European writer, understands these
things better than we DO they 60 out
walking in the rain and mud, wearing
long dresses, and, without taking their
hands from their muffs, come home with
their clothing as clearly 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
a late invention, and are now the fashion
in Great Britain. A woman who should
90 out in muddy weather without them
would be considered prude. They are
made thus There is belt of black
ribbon, three. quarters CT an inch wide,
and long enough to go round the lady's
waist, with hook on one end and an
eye at the other, as fastening; a piece
OF the same kind OF ribbon, three yards
long, is attached to the end and middle
of the belt. The belt is now put on with
the hook and eye in front and hanging
down on each side is q loon Of III" Ok rib
bon three-quarters OF a yard long. When
the lady is about to go out, she puts on
her beIt and puts part of the lower
portion of her dress through each loop,
which is thus ia sed into tour festoons
and ali OF it is about the lower edge Of
the pctticoat. She then walks out with
her hands free, her dress clean, and her
conscience at ease; and il she wishes 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, how
ever, white petticoat is not considered
indispensable on the contrary, scarlet
wooden petticoats are much worn by
most fashionable people, as also are red
wooden stockings. Indeed, the viii colt, n
stockings are tue exception, and not the
rule, for London wear in winter. Wool
is ordinarily worn, sometimes scarlet, or
scarlet with black stripes. or plaid with
q variety of colors. Aud then the shoes
are not Of thin cloth, with paper soles
but Bamoral boots, with heavy uppers
and thick soles, lacing up in front, as if
they were made Tor beings OF flesh and
blood, bred on roast beef, and good for
real service, hard work, sturdy health and
long life. Our American women are too
much in the habit of following bad fash
ions, and neglectiug good ones. Ii they
will just adopt the healthful practices, as
the expensive luxnries Of European arts
tocracy, it will be far better, as we'll as
more cred table in them. We are glad
to see, however, that correct taste is
being exercised by @r ladies. They
study health and comfort more than the
fashions, and We may expect to see them
as rosy checked aud robust as any of
our English cousins.