Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-05-14
ppMA1r DRESS REFORM.

Inauguration OF the reform IN womens
which health and morality alike
Considered in a rational light,
there is really nothing more absurd and
few things more wicked on the face Of the
earth, where civilization is said to exist,
than the mode of dress adopted by or
rather forced upon females. 1t is almost
entirely destructive Of health-is the chief
cause Of the debility that aflicts the
weaker SEX" Nothing but a blind, I'M
reasoning prejudice continues the style Of
clothing now worn by women. The
great Health Reform movement, which is
quietly going on in this country and in
Europe, has among its objects the entire
change of the Fashions" Of the day, as
prescribed by the Partisan danes. Some
Of the ablest writers and lecturers, Of every
school Of medicine, have devoted large
portions of their recent works on Hygiene
to outspoken and unqualified advocacy OF
the American Costume" Such men as
Drs. Trail and Jackson, have made this
topic one of leading Importance, in their
elaborate and invaluable treatises Of the
diseases peculiar to females. And the ex-
tent to which their recommendations, in
this particular, have been followed and
productive Of vast benefit, by the testi.
mony of their patients or readers, is a
clear indication Of the sure onward march
and ultimate triumph Of the new and SEN
sible mode Of female apparel.
The American custom" was devised
by Miss DR.. Harriet N. Austln-proprie-
tress, in part, Of the largest "Cure" in
the United States. A Dress Reform So
ciety has been organized in New York,
and has held annual conventions for six
or seven years. Its list of officers embrace
such men as President Williams, Of VIII
liams College, and Prof. Bascom-men Of
q character least likely to be connected
with any scheme or plan Of reform "
which was not absolutely sanctioned and
demanded by the spirit Of religious pro.
gress. More than one hundred thousand
females, in the Eastern States, are in the
habit Of wearing the american Co.'S
tune" while performing their household
work; and their testimony to its excel.
lence, in all respects, is full, and unan
swerable in its favor. In many towns in
the West this dress is worn almost ex.
clusively ; and no insult or thought o.
ridicule is the result. DR.. Trall-;hau
whom there is not an ADLER physician OIL
medical lecturer in the United States
hesitates not to declare that its genera
adoption would enhance the we'll beinl
Of women in this country in such degree
tina, the physical vigor and the averag,
mental capacity Of the female sex in oul
country would soon be marked as tht
Wonder OF the Age.
We observe that the Magistrate, in Sar
Francisco, before whom Mrs. DR.. d.
Wolf was tried, remarked that the ques'
ton for him to determine, for or against
the accused, was whether the dress she
wore was calculated to lead to q breach o.
the peace! The arresting officers should
have directed their attention and services
to the seizing of the young rascals who
amused themselves by insulting the wo-
man. We believe that the acquittal Of
Mrs. DR.. De Wolf would be Of signal
benefit in encouraging the adoption Of the
dress she innorates; for if she be discharged
without penalty for her alleged offense the
police will be thereby instructed as tc
their proper duty on occasions Of such
insult as this brave lady sustained from Q
parcel Of rascally loafing, youngsters. We
cannot doubt that in the "good time" sc
often sung of as looming" and now be.
lieved to be near at hand, women will
discard the cruelty b~urdensome and dis
ease breeding dress they are now COM
PEELED to wear; and it would be q matter
of special congratulation if the great me
tropolis of the Pacific should be the frs
city of large population to formally and
completely recognize the right Of woman
to appear in public in the beautiful and
healthful style Of garments which Mrs
DR.. Austin planned, and prescribes fol
her thousand patients at "Our Home
Cure" Those good people who suppose
that something like ~free-loveism is attach.
ed to the Dress Reform have been sadly
misled by the abusive articles which bigot,
and fools have Illuminated against this no.
BILE effort for the physical and, no less,
moral improvement Of woman. DR.. Jack,
son, an allopathic bred physician, Of thirty
years large experience in his profession
ascribes to the present unnatural dress Of
females twenty-five per cent. of the i'm.
morality that prevails among the sex"
And the array Of names now brought for
ward in support of the movement, in this
department Of human progress, affords an
endorsement, on behalf Of Christianity,
that cannot be sneered down BY the stupid
conservatives" who would and do decry
every attempt to better the condition Of
the race.
We hope to live to see the day when
American women will all adopt the natu-
raj style Of dress Mrs. De Wolf has rem
tured to wear on the streets Of San Fran
cisco; and when, so clad, those Of adult
years will have a vote in our elections.
And it seems to US that the day of perfect
Republican civilization will not have arri-
we'd, until such shall be among the estab-
lished order of things in the Nation. .
SAN FRANCIsCO DIsPATCH.
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO TIE COLD HILL DAILY NEWS. |
SAN Francisco, May AL P N.