The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-04-01
MRS. Grundy at the white House.


MRS. Grundy at the White, House..
1t is stated that Mrs. DIR. Mary Walk
er, who prefers the dress of the Steiner
sex to the conventional dress of wo-
man, endeavored recently to obtain an
interview with President Grant. Being
uniformly denied admission, she final
ly sent message inquirinR when she
could be received. To this it is said the
President responded that "she could be
received whenever she presented her
self in garb suitable to her sex."-
Washington Correspondence.
Very likely the President was justiii-
ed in denying Mrs. DIR. Mary Walker
an interview. but the denial for the
reason assigned, does not strike us as a
thing TO excite admiration, even though
done by the President. Mrs. Walkers
dress is not that of "the sterner sex !"
though she may "prefer" that, as stated
1t is the dress usually known as the
"Bloomer," that is, short skirts and
trousers. 1t meets every requirement
Of a convenient, comfortable and prop.
err "garb suitable to her SEX" 1t does
not in the slightest degree offend pro-
priety or modesty. HOni soft Qti mai q
penSe. 1t is a great deal more proper
than the low necked and no sleeved
dresses worn by hundreds of women at
the Inauguration ball, without, so far
as we are aware, shocking the modesty
of the President before whom they dis
played their charms.
Now if the Sultan of Turkey should
visit the United States and bring with
him his numerous wives. Gas of course
he would) he would most certainly visit
Washington; and being in Washington
they would certainly seek to pay their
respects TO the President. The ladies
In Turkey wear the same shocking
style of dress as Mrs. Walker. Then
what would modest President do?
REQUIRE the ladies of the Seraglio to put
on long skirts or refuse to sec them?
There is not IL potentate or court in the
world where or by whom visitors from
foreign countries cannot be received i'll
their own garb. Our own has hitherto
been no exception. The Japanese who
visited the White House three or four
years ago, were habited in long skirts
their sex according 10 our notions. Yet
they were not repulsed; and 1t is poor
rule that wont work both ways. If an
Ambassador from Guinea or from
Otaheite, arrayed in the usual costume
of his people, should present himself at
the White House and send in his card,
there would he good reason for
declining to receive him, espe-
clally if the ladies of the Mansion
were about. But when IL respectable
citizen OF this democratic country
asks to see the democratic President OF
this democratic government, wearing
a dress which oGends nothing but
purely conventional custom of ma
iority of society, it is not the province
of the President to make that dress n
bar to an interview-tO first stop and
inquire how many inches long the
skirts are-whether the trousers are
concealed or worn openly-whether the
feet are clad in boots, shoes or CATERS.
We're afraid President Grant has
made many enemies by his ungallant
treatment of Mrs. Walker. All the
women who wear the Bloomer dress
will declare war at once. All those
who would liketo wear it and are only
restrained by fear of Mrs. Grundy, will
feel that their aspirations have received
Il check. All the women who wear the
trousers at home de CdctO, while their
husbands wear them dc jwrc, will be
alieratcd by this refusal TO recognize
their prerogative at the White House;
while only those who have large feet or
elephantine ankles, or who for other
reasons wouldn't look pretty or grace
full in short skirts, will defend and
approve this severely virtUous Presi-
Dental regulation.