The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-04-30


The second session Of the dress reform
women was held last night In Union League
Hall. DR.. Walker, the president, aud DR..
Hasbrook, the secretary, were In position,
with large audience, but few Of whom ap-
pearcd TO desire to be recognized as members
of the "society."
1t was early dlsoeruable that there were
number OF young men In the roar OF the
hall who had como there with an idea Of
having fun without perhaps any intention OF
creating disturbance.
DR.. Walker announced that they had been
disappointed In the speakers who had been
announced. Dr. Harmon had written that
business engagements had prevented her
from leaving at the time intended. DR..
Dodds had not been heard from. She aud
DR.. Hasbrook would therefore try and in
terest the audience.
The Secretary, DR.. IIasbrook, then read
extracts from the reports Of last nights meet
ing as published In the Star and REPuDLI-
CAS, and desired to make some corrections.
The Star, she said, reported her as saying
she could get none but long women to
work In her printing office. This was q mis-
take; she said the long swabblng dresses were
so much In the way that her husband, Mr..
H., would not have them about.
The REPUBLICAN had exhibited some anx-
lcty for the babies which her husband
had left at home In the care Of a nurse,
while he accompanied her upon her mission.
She explained that the children were nearly
grown up-the eldest standing to her
shoulder, and she good sized woman-and
said that the children wero glad to have
father and mother away.
tQuery. Was her subsequent statement,
that but twelve years had elapsed since their
marriage, a mistakell
After these corrections she read a number
of letters from male and female sympa-
thizers, regretting their inability TO be with
the convention. The chirogaphy being evil
IDENTIFY bad she did not read as auently as
when reading her own handsomely -penned
address, and her pauses In endeavoring to
make out words were greeted with repeated
rounds Of applause from the lower end Of the
hall. The letters were followed by hu-
morous poem entitled you're on my dress"
which contained many good hits at the fash
ions Of the day. She promised by saving
that they had heard the previous night what
n woman had to say upon the subject, and
she would give them now what man had to
say about Ii.
Preparations were then commenced for an
anatom!i cal lecture. Plates representing the
human fra ne were hung up on the wall by
DR.. and Mrs. lockwood, under the superin-
tcndence of DR.. Hasbrook, the time being
occupied meanwhile by DR.. Walker In
citing curious fantasies Of fashion In various
countries and times, many Of them being
presented in ludlcrous light. The prepara-
ton concluded with the placing In position
tsa III.
arm and right leg, with the len leg gone be-
low the knee and the left hand gone, as were
some other minor parts.
To display this properly seemed to tax the
ingenuity OF the association" Finally the
temperance banner which hangs In the hall
was taken of the staff, and "poor Yorick"
with q string around his neck, was sus-
pended to the pole and Mrs. DR.. Lockwood
attempted the difficult task, Of making II
stand. Her attempts created good deal of
merriment and her husband came to her res
cue, but still the skeleton objected to the
company he was in and would sway one
way and another, which brought Rev Mr..
Wolf TO the platform. The audience was
Convulsed with laughter, at which DR..
Walker, not seeing what was going on be-
hind her, took umbragc and scolded little.
A gentleman in the audience attempted to
pacify her by saying that the disturbance
NOulu sup uo bhClCtOu was
fixed.
DR.. Walker said she did not sec why they
should laugh at what was just like them
selves and what thousands of women would
be before they wished 1t II they did not
change their style Of dress.
Finally the skeleton was fixed by crowding
its head into the folds OF the flag hanging
on the wall In the rear of the speaker, and
DR.. Walker proceeded to speak upon the
evil effects Of dress, using the skeleton and
the plates 10 illustrate her ideas, during
which she confessed herselfa slave TO fashion
in wearing her hair long, and apologized for
il by saying she did 1t from a desire not
to appear masculine.
Mrs. Lockwood was called upon for some
remarks and spoke in favor OF reform In
dress, claiming that 1t was much needed.
No man, she said, could afford to marry IN
less he had been left fortune, for he could
not support the present extravaganza. This
was an evil that was causing more crime
than any other. II the young ladies of the
present day continued SO extravagant they
would die old maids, and they deserved to-
She censured the display of dress exhibited
by the fashionable ladies while their sisters
were starving, and wound up with a picture
of the good time coming when woman would
have all her rights.
She moved that vote of thanks be ten.
them upon the two evenings. The motion
was put by Mrs. DIR. Lockwood and unani.
mously carried.
DR.. Walker then exhibited some curious
articles Of ornaments worn at different Pc
riods, such as nose rings, anklets, foot
lamps, &c.
Mr.. John O'Donovan was loudly called
for, and upon invitation of DR.. Walker, who
took occasion to whisper caution to be
lrtE an. TYr, 4 IL - a
met with such applause from the lower end
of the hall during his remarks as to greatly
annoy Mrs. DR.. Walker, who at the close OF
his remarks, called DR.. Hasbrook to the
chair, and herself relieved Mr.. Lockwood,
who had volunteered to act rs sergean at
arms. The change had the effect to secure
quiet in the rear OF the hall.
Rev. Mr.. Wolf, from the Rocky mount
aims, spoke warmly In favor of the reform
movement.
A call for Mr.. Lockwood from the lower
end Of the hall called up Mrs. Lockwood,
who said the two ladies had paid all the ex.
penscs Of the meeting, and she thought
those gentlemen at the lower end of the hall
should not attempt TO run II. Loud ap-
plause from the lower end OF the hall.
DIR. Hasbrook said 1t was a mistake to call
them gentlemen. Applause They were
rather boys who had escaped from the
u,
They had seen how much one little woman
bad done. II there were half a dozen big
women down there they would be perfectly
quiet. Loud applause.
She then made an appeal to the men to
sustain the ladies In their efforts to make q
reform In the mode Of dressing.
Col. Pierce was invited forward to speak
and read lecture TO the disorderly portion
of the meeting, which did not seem 10 have
a quietlng effect. He approved a reform,
but not the reform proposed, as he would
not know, II marrying, whether he was mar
rying a man or woman.
Al the close of his remarks, DR.. Hasbrook
asked him to stand by her upon the plat
form, when she said
Ladies' and gentlemen, you sec before you
a good.looking couple. Can You not tell
which Is the man and which Is the woman
Can you see no distinctive features by which
you could determine "Here," said she,
(gcnlly stroking the Colonel's long beard,)
SIS a badge Of no other"
Whether, like the Roman Senators, the
Colonel was indignant at having his beard