The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-11-20
Ladies' Dresses in Muddy Weather.

! 1t is an unpleasant sight to see ladies' ir
the streets, on rainy days, allow their dresse!
to trail in the mud. There is no impropriety
In raising the skirts high enough to keeI
them out of the dirt there is very unladv
like prudery in refusing to raise them slight
ly when cleanliness requires it. 1t is moi
necessary however, for any lady to hold hel
dress with her hands to keep it out of tbs
mud. The English women, says an Europe
an writer, understand these things better
than We do. They go out, walking in rain
and mud, wearing long dresses and, without
taking their hands from their muff., come
home with their 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 mu 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 go out without them
in muddy weather wo2ld be considered a
prude. They are made thus: There is bel,
of black ribbon, n,three-tourths of an inch wide
and long enough to 60 round the lady's
waist, with h,ok at one end AID an eve al
the other as a fastening 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 fro Mt:
and hanging down on each side is loop of
black ribbon, three-quartels Of yard long.
When the lady is about to 90 ont; she puts
on her belt, and puts part of the lower por-
tion of her dress through each loop. which
is thus raised into four f-stoons. and all of it
is above the lower edge of the pettcoat
She then walks out with her hands free, her
dress clean, and her conscience a: ease; ard
if 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 il shows white pcttacoat. one
of the most beautiful articles of ladies' aD-
parel, to much advantage. In England, how
ever, white petticoat is not considered in
dispensable; on the contrary. scarlet WOODEN
petticoat. are much worn by most fashiona-
bic people, as also are red woolen stockings
Inde ed, the white cotton stockings are the
exception, and not the rule, for London wear
in winter. Wool is ordinarily worn, some
times scarlet, or scarlet with black stripes. or
plaid with variety of co.ors. And then ne
shoes are rot of thin oil cloth. with paper
soles, but Balmoral boots, with heavy upper>
and thick soles, lacinS up in front, as if they
'~oro mall f.. l,i"~- &c aa-h and hlnnh 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 fashions. and neslecting
good ones. If they will adopt the heallhful
practices, as well as the expensive luxurieS
of European aristocracy, it will be far better,
as well as more creditabie in them. We are
glad to see, however, that correct taste is
being exercised by our ladies. They study
health and comfort more than the fashions.
and We may expect to see them as rosy
checked AMI robust as any OF cur English