Middletown transcript., 1868-12-19
From the NesO York Ledger,
Rag-rsg and sob-ran Fashions.

Rag~Tag and Bob-Tail Fashions.
When / say that the street-dress of the
majority of respectable women of New York
to-day is disgusting, / but feebly express
my emotions. / say the respectable wo-
men, and yet, save to those who know
them to be such, their appearance leaves a
wide mark for doubt. The clown at a
circus wears not more stunning or parti-
colored costume; in fact, his has the ad-
vantage of being sufficiently "taut, TO
use nutical phrase--not to interfere with
locomotion; while their's--what with dis
gusting humps upon their backs, and big
rosettes upon their sides and shoulders,
and loops, and folds, and buttons, and tas-
sells, and clasps, and bows upon their
skirts, and striped satin petticoats, all too
short to hide often clumsy ankles, and
more colors and shades of colors heaped
upon one poor little fashion-ridden body
than ever were gathered in one rainbow
and all this worn without regard to tenn
perature, time, or place. say this pre-
sents spectacle which is too dishearten-
ing even to be comical
One cannot smile at the young girls
who are, one day,-Heaven help them -
to be wives and mothers. Wees and
mothers say to myself, as / see the throat
and neck with only the protection of a gold
locket between itself and the cold autumn
nal winds. Wives and mothers! / say.
as | see them running their feet and throw
ing their ankles out of shape, in the vain
endeaver to walk on heels like corks, fas-
tened far into the middle of the sole of
their boots; and those boots so high upon
the calf of the leg, and so tightly buttoned
across it, that circulation is stopped, and
violent headaches follow. Wives and
mothers say, as | see the heating and
burdensome panier tackled on the most
delicate portion of woman's frame, to
make still surer confirmed invalidisms.
What fathers, husbands, brothers, lover
can be thinking about, to be willing that
the women they respect and love should
appear in public, looking like women
whom they despise, is a marvel to me-
Why they do not say this to them, and
shame them into decent appearance-if
their glasses cannot effect i'll do not
know. Oh, the relief it is to meet a lady,
instead of ballet-girl! !! Oh, the relief it
is to see healthy, firm stepping. rosy,
broad chested, bright-eyed woman, clad
simply with dress all of one color, and
free from lunches and tagsl l turn to
look at such an one with true respect. that
she has the good sense and courage and
good taste to appear on the street IN dress
benehting to those poor wretched women
whose business it is to advertise their per-
sons free field without competition. If
seem to speak harshly, it is because
feel earnestly on the subject. / had hoped
that the women of 1868 would have been
worthy of the day in which they live.
had hoped that all their time would not
have been spent in keeping up with the
chameleon changes of fashions too ugly,
too absurd for federation. 1t is because
want them to be something, to do some
thing higher and nobler than peacock
might aim at, that turn heart-sick away
from these in6nitessimal fripperies that
narrow the soul and purse, and leave moth
ing in their wake but emptyness Nor is
it necessary, in avoiding all this, that a
woman should look 'strong-minded, as
the eagbear-p phrase goes. It is not me-
cessary she should dress like her grand
mother, in order to look like decent wo-
man. It is not necessary she should for
swear ornameptetioH, because it were bet
ter and more respectable to have it con-
fined to festal and home occasions and less
| to the public promenade. She is not driv-
en- to the alternative of muffing herself like
an omnibus driver in January, or catch
ing consumption with her throat protected
only by gold locket
Oh, how / wish that bevy Of young,
handsome girls, Of good social position,
would inaugurate plain lady-like cos
| tune for street and church wear. say
young and handsome, because if an old
woman does this, the little chits toss their
heads and say, s0h she has had her day,
and don't care now w-apd we want ours. =
4 Nov that's perfectly natural, and right,
too, that you should have your youth
that you should, as girls say, s.make the
most of yourselves !" but in doing so DOM
you think it would be we'll not to lessen OF
cheaper yourselves? and I submit with
all Difference to your dressmakers and
mammas, that every one of you who ap,
| pear in public in the manner / have des
cribed, are doing this very thipg--are de.
filing womanhood, and are bringing it in.
to derision and contempt, whether you be
lieye it or not. FANNY FERN.
IT., Ht5pr uaaparxuse TaLa Az svt,;t