The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1868-12-11
The Fashions.

Fanny Fern writes for the n. Y. LEDGER
She has queer notions and uses PLAIN lam
guage. The world will not agree with her
in manv things, but the sensible part OF 1t
will endorse her structures on some oil the
absurd fashions of the present days. II the
Lord had made some ladies look as they
make themselves look, we should call it one
of those mysterious Providences which no
body could understand. But hear Fanny;
When I call the street dress oil the ma
iortv of respectable women OF New L ork
today disgusting, | but feebly express my
emotions. | say the respectable women,
and vet save to them who know them TO be
such, their appearance leaves wide margin
for doubt. The clown at the circus wears
not more stunning or parti .coored costume;
in fact he has the advantage of being sulll-
ciently "taut" to use nautical phrase-not
| TO interfere with locomotion; while thelr s.
what with disgusting humps upon fhe'r
backs, and big rosetts upon their slGes ana
shoulders; and loops, and folds, and buttons
and tassels, ard clasps and bows upon thelr
skirts. and striped petticoats all too short
to hide often clumsy ankles-and more color
and sh,des Of colors heaped upon one poor
little fashion ridden-body than ever was
gathered in one rainbow-and all this worn
without regard to temperature, or time, or
place--1 say this presents spectacle which
is too disheartening even to be comical.
One cannot smile at the young girls who
are, ore day-Heaven help them--to be
wives and mothers. Wives and mothers !
I sav to myself, as see the throat and neck
with only the protection of gold locket be-
tvoen itself and the cold autumnal winds
Wives and mothers! | say as l see them
ruining their feet and throwing their ankels
ont Of shane in the vain endeavor to walk
ON heels like corks, fastened far into the
middle of the sole of their boots and those
so high upon the calf of the leg and button
ed across it SO tightly that circulation IL
stopped. and violent headaches follow. -
5 wives and mothers! | say, as l see the
heating and burdensome panier tackled OF
the most delicate portion OF woman :
5 frame, to make still surer confirmed lnVallu
! ism. What fathers husbands, brothers ant
lovers can be thinking about, 10 be willin4
t that the women they respect and love- shoui'
appear in public, looking like women whom
t they despise is marvel to me- why the
don't saw this to them, and shame them int
5 decent appearance, II their glasses canec ,
t effect it, | do not know Oh, the relief
| L.
e On. the relief it is to see healthy, iirm
II stepping. rosy, broadchested, brght-eye
e woman, clad simply with dress all OF on
S color, and free from punches and tags!
turn to look at such a one with true respect
that she has the good sense and courage an
# good taste to appear or the street IN dre'
+, BETTING the street; leaving to those poo
~ wretched woman whose business is to adve
a. tise their persons Il free field without comp
Iv tition. If seem to speak harshly, it is b
a. q. cause feel earnestly on this subject hi
w boped that the women of 1868 would ha'
nt been worthy of the day in which they liv
Is had hoped that all their time would y
Nv have been spent in keeping up with the cha
~ ges of fashions too ugl y too absurd Tor t'
~ Grafton. 1t is because | want them to
nr something. or DO something higher al
nv nobler than peacock might aim at, that
or turn heQrt-sick away from these lnlnlteslni
id lripperies that narrow the soul anu purse "a
m leave nothing to their wake but emptlne'
ot Nor is it necessary, in avoiding all tn
to that woman should look "strOng minded
On as the bugbear phrase goes. 1t is not NJ
70 essarv that she should dress like her graz
Of mother in order to look like decent womf
of 1t is not necessary she should forswear orr
mo- mentatiOn, because it were better and mt
10 respectable to have it confined to fest"l a
ION home occasions and less to the promend'
She is not driven to the alternative OF m
fling herself like an omnibus driver IN Ja
-, airy, or catching consumption with her thr'
~. n, protected only by gold lecket.
", Oh, wish that bevy of young handso
w, -" girls, of good social position, would IN
r'tS Az gurate plain lady like costume for str
". n"9 and church wear. | say young and ha
so;un some, because if an old woman does, :he
i.a J tie chits will toss their heads and say, ~
hev hev she has had her day and don't care now
~ now we want ours"
ocS Now that's perfectly natural and rig
'o' n, TOO, that you should have your youth;
Ji 'Iio you should as girls say, ''make the most
"" of yourselves" but in doing so don't you I'll
.En it would be we'll not to lessen or chea
NV yourselves? but submit, with all delert
;eh to your dressmakers and mammas, that e.
atn' ntn one of you who appear in public in the II
,'a', ner | have described are doing this
'Ia o;aI thing--are defhng womanhood, and br
o'"' ing it into derision and contempt, whe
:, o. you believe it or not.