The New York herald., 1869-04-30
The DRESS REFORMERs.

The DRESS REFORMERs.
~~~~~~-~<->~~>>~~>>~>s>~
Another Enthusiastic Demonstration-A PHI
Ianthropi. SON Of st. Crispim-Doctress Has.
brouck,A Babies and Husba nd-An UnaccOm.
msdatins Skeleton.
WAsHIHaTON, April 20, 1862
The dress ref0rmers had another mighty amusing
meeting tonight at Union League Hail. The audi
ence was very large, filling up the to Its utmost
capacity, and numbering among 1t several respect
able females but still large proportion of unruy
boys. who repeated during the proceedings the
same noisy demonstrations OF last night Be-
sides Doctresses Walker and Hasorouck, there
were present as active participants on the
side Of the reformers Mr.. and Mrs. lockwood
Mr.. John O'Donovan, philanthr0pic shoemaker
on Pennsylvania avenue; Rev. Mr.. Wolfe. and Colo
mel Pierce, Virginia carpetbagger. Doctress
Walker was arrayed in a new costume consisting OF
green coat ana pants white shirt and patent leather
boots while D0ctress Hasbrouck appeared in black
velvet coat and breeches trimmed with lace. sort
OF compromise between the male and female attres.
The Walker presided opening the proceedings with
an apology for the absence OF certain female
dress reformers who had been advertised to appear
but did not come to time. Doctress Hasbrouck
next read a number of letters from female lumi-
nares absent in the nesh though present IN spirit.
reports OF the proceedings last night and particu-
larly to that In paper which said she had left
her home and deserted her babies to attend the
meeting. She wanted to say that her babies were
as big as herself, and would feel terribly mortified
should they be called their mammals babies.
Qaughter.j Nodoubt the reporter had made the mis-
take IN consequence Of her young looks, supposing
thar one youthful could not have grown up
children-more aughter)-or perhaps he mad fallen
in love with her good looks. (Roars Of applause,
Doctress Walker remarked that no sympathy
need be felt for the Hasbroucks husband in con-
sequence OF her loving remarks about the reporter,
for Mr. Hasbrouck was present in person. Shouts
OF laugnter.) During the melee Hasbrouck endeav.
ored to make himself invisible.
DOctress Hasbrouck then got up again and said
that as last night she had given a woman's
opinion ladies' dress she would now read a
mans views on that subject She then read an ode
entitled you're on my Dress'', by man on the
skirts OF civilization 1t is the experience Of man
at an evening party where long trains prevailed and
and the fashionable style OF dress. Here is spec
men and good hSt at what Is termed full dress:-
The flowing stream that its course is sped
BY man Is sometimes damned to raise its head.
The same appliance brought TO bear on trains
ws sas sD SS but u % retains
Aud "alabaster" hide from curious eyes.
TO trailing skirts which grow more ampaed sa"''
As time roll; o.. and r Resson calls ILL in in vain
The reading Of this ode wasgreeted with applause
and laughter.
stood up She said she had an apparatus she de-
sired to erect II some gentleman would only be
Se 70 lend her aaugn6e gentle
black stick. which was accepted by q graceful
curtsey. Thereupon smiling midde-aged lady and
two elderly men mounted the platform and COM
menced unrolling the anatomical diagrams, showing
the muscular, baseular and osseous tissues
underneath two American flags and provoked
roars OF laughter. That done, a poor skeleton
head and trunk complete, but sadly lacking in the
eXtremties; only part OF one leg was visible and
one arm was gone altogether. Thus bereft Of
It's integrity, the poor skeleton was hOsted into view
on q long pole and most desperate effort made
10 fix 1t In an eligible position behind the Presiden-
seemed to be mOrtay onended at being exposed in
It's imperfect and disointed state 1t refused repeat
rafting its bones in great disdain and shaking its
jaws as II ready to chaw Dr. Walker and all her
fSsa company y0r, az snort nGce or course during
have ITSELF the boys kept up tremendous
with great zest The man and the two women,
nothing dauned by the obstinacy Of the skeleton It.
self or the derislve shouts Of the audience, kept
striving to hx the poor skeleton in some way or
other and finally laid 1t quietly against the Stars and
stripes. where 1t rested In quietude. In the mean
time the Walker had been speaking and
interrupted repeatedly by the laughter
at the eiforcs 10 arrange the skeleton The Docress
however, supposed the merriment was at her own
expense, and getting quite angered shouted out in
piercing tone the hope that the unruly bows woud
cease Their roaring; y they did not she would have
with according to law. She was Interrupted by q |
gentleman In The audience, who said that the laugh
was at the skeleton not at the Walker. This caused
great cheering and laughter.
81 don't see why people should , augh at what is so
"And what many OF them will soon be like.n
cried the Rev. Mr.. Wolf.
"Yes, and particularly what many women will be
Ike soon they don't reform their Dress" screamed
the Walker.
the doctress.
Silence shortly after restored, and the Walker |
proceeded to give lecture on female attire ancient
servations on the hygienic anatomical and |
phyHologIca aspects OF the question OF dress |
suited from their absurd style OF dressing she |
said, and endeavored 10 explain by seizing |
the poor skeleton by the pelvs and pointing the
why and the wherefore by anatomical Illustrations
Every pull the Doctress gave the skeleton caused
the boys TO shout anew and to stamp and clap their
her lecture the Doctress sweetly smiled aud |
said II there was any man in the audience |
would be glad to hear HIM. Nobody seemed In a |
hurry 10 respond to the smiling invitation so Duc-
tless Walker called upon Mrs Lockwood to step for.
and opened by saying that Doctress Walker, In
stead OF inviting the men to speak against
they would at least say q word on the
subject. The reform was one that women should
effect; II OF mems business and they had no
right e. say yea or nay TO II. She then said some
thing about the time when there was little siQale-
meaning 'gairln-which brought the hownp bows
In tremendous chorus. She not TO be daiinted
she said, by the men who endeayored 10 |
sneer or snufr at her. She would say what
she had to say, whether they Kissed or |
cheered or howled, and wanted the men to know |
tnat she then proceeded to give her reasons for
believing In the Bloomcr costume at some length,
but SAID nothing very original. She was followed
by the phIlanthropc shoemaker. O'Donovan, who
made powerful Hbernian appeal In behalf of |
dress reform during which he was fre.
quently interrupted by the Walker calling 10
him, 'Your time Is ups" "Cut IL short aud
wind II up" The shoemaker finally reached
his last and sat down. The Doctress IIasbrouck
once more spoke directing her remarks to the Young
oaiers who were making much noise and disturb.
Ing the meeting. she said they were boys who
ought TO be spanked and kept at home, or else they
were men ignorant VI how to behave themselves In
hey had any big woman Ike her to deal with they