American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-01-02
Yfljsttllan;ms,
THE FOLLY OF FASHION.
BY FANNY FERN.

| When | say that the street dresses
Of respectable women of New York
to-day is disgusting, but freely ex.
press my opinion. | say the respec
table women, and yet, save to them
who know them to be such, their ap
pearance leaves a wide margin fol
doubt. The clown at the circna
wears not more stunning or parti-
cOlOrei costume; in fact his has the
advantage Of being sufficiently 'taut'
to use a nautical phrasc-not to in
tertere with lOcOmotlOn while theirs
with what disgusting humps upon
their backs and big rosetts upon
their sides and shoulders, and loops,
and folds. and buttons. and tasScIs.
clasps, bows upon heir skirts, and
striped satin pettico"ts, all too short
10 hide often c!umsy ankIeS-and
more cOlOrS and shades Of c0Iors
heaped upon a poor little fashion
ridden body than ever was gathered
in TainboW-and all this worn with =
out regard to temperature, or time
or place-I say this presents a spec
tacle which is too dishcartening
even to be comlcal.
One cannot smile at the young
girls who are, one day-Ueaven help
them--to be wives and mothers.-
Wives and mothers | say to myself
as | see the throat and neck with on
~ the protection of a gold locket be-
tween itself and the cold autumnal
winds. Wives and mothers | say,
as | see them running their feet and
throwing their ankles out of shape in
the endeavOrs to 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 buttoned across it so tightly
that circulation is stopped, and vic
lent headaches follow. Wives and
mothers say, as | see the heated
and burdenSOme panier tackled on
the NEST delicate portion of wO-
mans frame, to make still surer con-
firmed invaldism. What fathers,
husbands, brothers and lovers can be
thinking about to be willing that wO-
men they respect and love, should
appear in public, looking like women
whom they despise, is a marvel to
me. Why they do not say so to them
and shame them into decent appear.
ance, if their glasses do not effect it,
| do not know. Oh, the relief it is
to see healthy. firm stepping, rosy,
broad-chested, bright eyed woman,
clad simply with dress Of one color,
and hee from bunches and tags! |
turn to look at such a one with true
that she has the good sense |
and courage and good taste to appear
on the street in dress beftting the
street, leaving to those poor, wretch
ed women whose business it is to ad- |
vertise their persons a free field .
without competition. If L seem to
speak harshly il is because / feel
earnestly on this subject. l 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 fashion too ugly, too all
Surd for federation. 1t is because |
want them t. be something, to do
higher and nobler than a
peacock might aim at, that | turn
Ieart sick away from these intini;es-
NAL fripperies that narrow the soul
md the purse, and leave nothing IN
heir wake but emptiness. Nor Is
t necessary in avoiding all this, that
/ woman looks " strong minded, as
he bugbear goes. 1t is not necessa-
v that she should dress like her 3,
iu order to look decent.
t is not necessary that she shonld
Orswear ornamentatiOns because
t were better and mure lpSpecta- !
Ne to have it confined more to ies-
nj and home occasions, and less 10 :
he promenade. She is not driven ,
q the alternative Of iluifins herself