Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-02-21
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tFron hoorph Rural New HorkeT1
Not long since, being the happy recipient
OF that "blesslng In diaguisen-a new dress
Tho feminine portion Of our household was
doomed TO the trying ordeal essential TO the
making thereof and II was that trial which
has led me 10 this oxpediont with tho san
guine hope that tho wave Of reform NAV
receive an additional impulse BY my vehs-
ment protest. Such poering Into magazines,
and interviewing" dressmakers, and such
unbearable measuringa and trylnga .ou,
would have been the death OF Us had we not
been early taught the art Of submission, but
thanks to that, we lived. ... 'r'
Lived until, at an hour when my long.
tried forboarance was Just ready ~ fall en-.
tirely, an ofiolous neighbor (Mra. Grundy
liked called; after inspecting every Identical
part, from the braid on the skirt TO the band
at tho throat, she Informed US that IL was
Every well done, but shockinRly short" and
then added the baneful inquiry "Why in
the world didn't you allow Il TO trail q very
little I"
Trails be condemned That last feather
broke the cancels back; aud my subsequent
lecture upon the glOries Of short dresses, the
follles aud yanltles Of corsets and trails, and
the wlckedness In general Of mcddler,
efiectuRlly Ellenoea the poor lady and put an
end to her advice. The dear creature has
never said "trall" TO me since.
Alaek and alasi however, that such things
are allowed to exist. Why cannot q good
thing in fashion be re.alnsd-made stand
ing Institution, which we may or may not
follow for the ensuing year, as 1t may suit
our Individual fancy1 Not but what short
skirts have their discrepancies; they may
sometimes be uugraceful, Inappropriate, and
unlRdy like; but think Of their superiority In
ever so many sltuatlons-wlll II not over
balance the eyill
Imagine tho inability Of young lady, rc-
turning from school on q rainy day, carry
Ing books and basket, and II may be with
q refractory veil TO keep In check-imaglne,
say, the Inability Of such q belSaguered
person TO manage all these and hold up the
ample drapery which usod to DO lndlSpon.
sable.
Think Of the majesty Of promenadlng the
Broadway Of our little town on a fine after.
noon with an ample cloud OF dust following
one at an unpleasant distance, and then haV'
Ing come TO an abrupt standstill 10 dlsengage
ones trail from dry goods boxes, Sidewalk
spikes, &C., every few yards Imagine the
fun OF hunting hens nests in the old barn n
grandma's-cllmblng that queer ladder and
Jumping from the big beam In q long dress
Think Of reaching the grapes on that wild
vine In the pasture from the topmost rail- o.
the high fence, and Of running up stairs II
hurry and both arms full, with O dozeI
yards OF alpaca cllnging to your flying feet
Shades Of bloomerl Why 1t destroys hal
the fun Of living, come TO reach the glst o
the matter,
| II we must needs don, with our woman
hood, a bushel Of dignity with an acre o
cloth, let us bunch II up In some way o
other, and do away with the misery Of I
trail. Kind fashion, have pity Let GU
garments be measured by tho rule Of com
mon sense, and may justice hold the tap
and mercy the scissors, when long sklrts ar
once more put upon us. K. A. d.