Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-08-12
RLoOMER, REDIYI IUS.
T K,om the Phlad.lphia In0uirer


01a of those CURIOUS n.ioal, eceentri, and IN
svaiiug conventions in which "strong minded" womsn
sometimes indulge, has j1ss been held in New fork
The qu'soa TO be settled b. this conVerto on was IN
relation TO the proper style OF dress for women An
immerse majority of American Homen have no diff
cultes in relation to this subject. Tney accept the
IA HONS from the milners, though the latter should
propose stys ever so ridiculous Bat among cur gentle
sisters there me who undertake TO e. their own
idess, and crave to be ndepend mt of the Paris
fshons. They have for come reason which metapby.
scians have never explained, hankering after blur
Gated garments ana dsdaiu CT frocks They desire
to reform femlle Dress by aesim ling 1t to the male
eOrume, aud the they can bring ii to the mas
cuins standard, the greater their happiness. Wo-
men of this character we're tbs principal actors
| in the late convention 0ne lady, who 10 called
che Niagara county farmer" IS thus described =
'She a Dond scnpt costume, OF which but faint
idea be given by any oher medium than that OF &C.
tua sight 1t might be supposed to be sort of bathing
dress, lacking, however, the gracau'ues1 with which
that garment adaps tselt TIE coat, If that is the
proper name Of the upper garment WGs made Of broom
stuff fitting 81 ssly to the w4s from whence me lower
part burg down, appearing something Ike gentle
mans frock coat wit the back ia fsolt. Her pants
loons cx;eI Ged 10 her substantial shoes, which bore
evidence to h. rlth Oi the statement that che has
travelled ten OF plougaed lAnd this spring,
wing wheat. Tho lacy appeared TO be about forty
years old and rather thn and square featured and
fee somoEhat bFor ED by outdoor labor and expo
20 have been carefully comSed was cut Of abSye
her oulder." This strong minded aud sirong fsled
woman declred that the Caus) OF the delicate health
OF largo proportion OF our American ladies' is that
trey did nor work hard enough. Having herself n
ten acres Of ground with wheat this year, she knew
Whe eof she spoke aud she Of opinion that ii
woman in i'll health could not fad wheat felds TO ope-
upon would be better for her to ego out in ths
los and dig up stumPs," if she could find nothing eIe
| to do.
| A lad In tbo
and displaying q white Inca shirt bosom, sconced he
views of her agricultural fieRd Another one, fem-
nne otor, declared that in regard to wouans dress
she thought improvement for the batter is needed
10 come manner They are Worn too tight around the
visit and too iog. II ltdi,s wear their dresses
oos ly they would fad their lufgs expInding they
| shouts, and me ribs widening rom the stsrLun, OF
breasltope outward. They will then be obliged 10 'let
Ou their dresses about every year. 10 suit tGs natural
oxoansion Of the waist"
/ appeared om the discussion, which was entirely
the merits Of the shorter boomsr dTes that there
were three parties PRESENT. DslE, the radicsl reform
ers the SeCOr rers aud the compromise
formers Tho radical feiormers went for the very sh IT
skirt ard The coat 70 be worn ell obs; the
cOnpOmPe rsiormsrs, for the boomer dres3 certain
occasions q ul ans comfortable bus not exactly
en- ornamental dress ami the Conservative re!oImsrF
making he Searer APPEAR Singular, and in opposition 10
present public oIinisn.
These matters brought out grea, deal Of experience
aud finally the debate into inquiry whether ladies'
who The reform costume WCl li-ble DO insult
ed. 0ne lady who had "a thin Ssbge aad her hair part
cd on side" had WoTh the faYori c1gtume Tor
years, and be nsulJed but once and that was
late night, sh she in the alone. Another
l'dy had the happin7fs 70 havs be aa'ried IN bloom
eF dTess, and wore /. On hsr welding tour SJne OF
the congregation o. cted bu che per vorod and row
she universally Dc9Yed among tie members ali on
account OF her sbott ssifis and irOssars.