North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-06-02
WON an aud her Costume.

Woman ana her Costume.
A very sensible woman makes. in the
Revolution newspaper, the shrewdest sug-
gestion we have yet encountered in regard
to feminine costumes. In the first place,
she pertinently asks if the Sorosis ladies
in condemning fashions that expose the
person more than good taste or good sense
would warrant" ailude to the eight
waists and tight basques which give such
immodest prominence to the bust? or to
the hoops which, upon the slightest pro-
vocation, make such unseemly displays p
That is a good hint at piece of indelcacy
very common among the ladies, for nothing
could well be more suggestive than the
fashion, in this tat-chested country, of
stufhng the bust of dress out like the
breast OF pigeon, or that of a military
coat. We have seen lady furtively con-
ceal variety of household "small ware"
in her bosom, merely to make believe that
nature had formed her with a special
plumptitude in that region. But the sensi-
BILE woman we allude to says:
Exposure Of that which was intended
to be hidden attracts attention and excites
coarse thought; but that woman should
allow the world to discover that she is a
creature with arms and legs, is not expo
sure"
This is true, and in countries where wo-
men expose their limbs habitually, the
exposure occasions less observation than it
does here, where it is only done as if acc-
dental and when it becomes fashionable.
"a dress that more nearly resembled
that of man would render woman less
conspicuous, and therefore more at ease in
public places. She would not have to
brazen her front as she does in her present
attire, which seems to be particularly de-
signed to attract attention to her SEX"
There is much food for reflection in this
paragraph, although it does not justify
the Bloomer costume, nor make masculine
garments becoming upon the fair sex. The
''Rcvolution" itself upon this topic re-
marks:
"As to woman's dress, we think it su-
perlatively ridiculous, from her heels to
her head, sheer invention of the devil to
befool and bclittle her, and just as fast a.
she seeks active work and amusements she
will lay it aside. Already, at the gymna
SUM and skating pond, girls have donned
dress that leaves their lungs and legs
free. The idea that woman is made like
churn on casters IS fast passing away,
and it will not be long ere she, too, will
honor the bifurcated garments, and find
new health and vigor in the deep breath
ing and freedom Of locomotion.''
This is the kind of extravagant rhodo-
montade that tempts men to laugh when
ever the ''strong- minded mount one of
their hobbies, and, instead of mod stly
amblins in any direction, commence in
dulsing in such exaggerated performances
that they seem only fit to 20 a-foot. A
woman's dress is not "sheer invention of
the devil to befool and belittle her," and
none but woman who befools and BELT
ties herself by absurd speech and action
would so denominate it. A woman's dress
is not as fitted tor laborious pursuits as
mans, but it is always eminently graceful,
is often very dignified, and (Iet us whisper
this fact) is the only thing about not few
women that commands the respects of gen.
tlemen. Put these women in male attire
and they would only inspire contempt.
That a woman is not ''made like churn
on casters" the age is certainly beginning
to realise, and hence to say ''legs'' to a
woman does not now cOnsign gentleman
w ooS'o' So'Chtlys III uScu ID. w Dcn
women, forbade us to speak of anything
but Climbs CT of combinations" or of
"wslkers," they inferentialy commanded
US to infer thar .jambes were not attributes
of their sex, and of course they proper
tionately stimulated male curiosity when
they displayed ever so little of what they
insinuated they had not. Less prude,y
on their part would often have.sucgested
more modesty. As it is, their excessive
prudery is fading away. Legs are pre-
sumed to belong to all human beings, and.
for want Of piquant aliment curiosity on
the subject is dying out But, would not
'biturcated garments on women (mean-
ing trowsers) revive that curiosity in all
its coarseness The ancient Welch Bible
tells us that when Adam and Eve disco,
vered their nudity in EdeI, they made
unto themselves breeches - but can any
woman openly wear such masculine gear
now, in this degenerate state of the world.
without at least awakening ridicule? An
swer us that question, We who plead for
the Revolution The Boys would boot, in
the streets, after every woman so costum-
ed, and could Superintendent Kennedy put
police force enough on the special duty Of
protecting such women from insult? We
fear not Sunday Times.