The Evansville journal., 1868-12-04
sgOURNA AL
Fanny Fern on tbs Fashions.

When I say that the street dress of
the majority of respectable women of
New York to-day is disgusting, | but
ieebly express my emotions. say
the respectable women, and yet, save
to those who know them to be such,
their appe 4ran &c leaves a wide margin
fer doubt. The clown at a circus
wears not a more stunning or partl-
coiored costumC; IN fact, his has the
advantage of being sufficiently "taut"
to use IA nautical phrase-nOt to
interfere with locomOtlon; while
their's-what with disgusting humps
upon their backs, and big rosettes
upon their sides and shoulders, and
lo0ps and folds, and buttons, aud
Is sells, and clasps, and bows upon
their skirts, and striped satin petit
coats, 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 rain bow
and all tins worn without regard to
temperance, or time, or place. say
this presents spectacle which is too
dlsheartening even to be comical.
Que cannot smile at the young girls
who are, one day-Heaven help them
to De wives and mothers. Wives
and mothers | say to myself, as [ see
the threat and neck with only the
protection of a gold locket between
itself and the cold autumnal winds.
Wives and mOthersl / say, as | see
them running their feet and throwing
their ankles out of shape. in the vain
endeavor 10 walk on heels like corks,
fastened 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 cir
culation is stopped, and violent head
aches follow. Wives and mothersl |
say, as | see the heating and burden
some paGier tackled on the most deli.
cate portion of a woman's frame. to
make still surer cOnfr med invalidism.
What fathers, husbands, brothers,
lovers can be thinking about, to be
willing that the women they respect
and love should appear in public look
ing like women whom they despise, is
a marvel to me- Why they do not say
this to them, and shame them into a
decent appearance if their glasses
cannot effect it do not know. Oh,
the relief IL is to meet lady instead
of a ballet girl; oh, the relief it is to
see a healthy, frm-stepping, rosy,
broad -chested. brieht-eyed woman,
clad simply with dress all OF one
color, and free from punches or tags!
/ turn to look at such an one with
true respect, that she has the good
sense and courage and good
taste 10 appear on the street
IN dress betitting the street :;
leaving to those poor wretched women
whose business it is to advertise their
persons free field without competi-
ton. If seem to speak harshly, it
is bect use l feel earnestly on this sub
ject. had hoped that all their time
would not be spent in keeping up
with the chameleon changes of fash
ions too ugly, too absurd Tor tOlera-
ton. 1t IS because | want them to
be something higher and nobler than
IA peacock might aim at, that l turn
heart-sick away from these infinitesi
mai irlppeTIes that narrow the soul
aud purse, and leave nothing in their
wake but emptiness. Nor is it neces-
sary, IN avoiding all this, that a wO
man shO1ld look strong minded,
as the bug bear phrase goes. 1t is
not necessary she should dress like
her Grandmother, In order to look
like decent woman. 1t Is not nee
essary~she should foreswear ornsmen-
tatlon, because it were better and
more respectable to have it confined
TO fesral and home occasions, and less
to the public promenade. She is not
driven to the alternative of muffi ing
herself like an omnibus driver in Jan
uary, or catching consumption with
her throat protected only by 4 gold
locket-Nel0 York. LeHqer.