The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-28

the advantages and beauties of the streform'
costume. We doubt not that these women
are inspired by the very highest motives and the
purest intentions; but why, in the name OF all
the gracee that are supposed to wait on the
feminine toilet did they think 1t necessary to
choose dress that Is made up of the uglest
features of the male attire, and that is rendered
doubly hideous by those physiological pecu-
larlties of the female form that, however attrac-
tive wheA set off by flowing skirts, are anything
but fascinating when revealed by breechee 2
Did these women, in the secluson of their retreat
at Florence, beguIle themselves into the notion
that the world had begun to advance
towards their position or that they had at
least made such an impression on society that
they could appear in public without at
tracting remark We can assure them that,
whatever the hygenic inconveniences of the pre-
sent female fashions in dress may be, the
sex feminine are the first to repudiate the reform
costume of the Florence Heights doctresses, and
that they will repudiate any attempts at reform
in which the chief characteristic is hideousness
1t seems that our remarks on Saturday gave
offeDse to some of the reformers, and we find in
the columns of one of our contemporaries the
following communication on the subject. We
can assure the writer of this document that we
are always ready to open our columns to any pro-
per explanations from persons whom we may have
occasion to criticize, and the advocates of the
"reform" dress have as fair chance to
present their cause to the public in THE TnLE-
GRAPH as In any other paper published There
was no necessity for firing side shot at us In
this instance through the columns of the Press,
as the writer insinuates and we recommend her
in the future, If she has any complaint to make
against us, to address her remarks directly to u.s.
To prove our sincerity in this matter we give
space to the communication referred to:-
TO the Editor of tho Press:-Slr-I ask respectfully
place In your columns to explain the occasion and
motives which induced some twenty OF the women
students OF the Hyeglenic Medical College TO visit
Philadelphia last Saturday, and whose presence
caused some nd od yoqr city papers especially THE
guage unworthy OF any respectable public Journal
| should address thus communication TO them
has taught me that editors who can
treat women against whose lives, characters, and
motives no word OF reproach can be truthfuily al
leged with such indeCency of language and vul-
garty OF spirit, would never allow the other side
oppressive and intelligent or the newspaper press
that can either appreciate the position Of these wo-
men and the cause in which they are engaged, or
that can feel any disposition TO do them justice.
| Now, these women have adopted the ''reform
dress quot the "bloomer' costume) from principle
They have worn it on all occasions for many years.
| as have some thousands of women in the United
| States. They have studied the subject faithfully
| and have held three national conventions In view
| of comparing notes and providing the best poss-
bic style Uf dress that should combine convenience
utility, healthfulness, and economy, and they know
| they have succeeded. The dress they wear does
answer perfectly all OF these purposes. 1t is
not yet fashionable; 1t may never become so. But
if these women find 1t conducive to health, comfort
and useful why cannot they be permitted to wear It
in the streets of Philadelphia IN peace they in
| many other places? Why must slang epithets be
| hurled at them, and Installations INDUCED calcu-
| lated o call the rowdy element, always rife in large
cities, and only awaiting some plausible incentive
| for outrage, to come down upon them?
1t is known to all Psychologists, and 1t is common
theme OF physicians, lecturers medical Journals and
even Of the newspapers Of the day, that the fashion,
able style OF wo mans dress is the cause OF most OF
her iDfrmites and sulferings No respectable physi-
ologst will pretend to say that is even possible for
| woman either to be healthy herself or bring into
the world healthy child IL she habually wears the
| ordinary costume. The physicians OF Philadelphia
are Indebted to this cause alone for more than
half OF all their business
The Hygienc Medical College has held yearly ses
stons In New York for more than fifteen years Dul-
ing all this time part of It's women students have
worn the reform dress, which shocked the refined
senslbilities Of certain editors reporters your
city. They have been in the habit OF attending the
clinics OF Bellevue Hospital on Saturdays, and In
no Instance has newspaper OF that city attacked
them with vile epthets or yiler insinuationS Three
years ago tho college was removed to this place,
since which time the students, male and female,
have occasionally attended clinics in Philadelphia.
They are seeking medical education with the To-
tention OF practising the healing art All they ask
Is the privilege of walking your streets and purchas-
ing such articles as they need They do not seek
notoriety, nor do they desire to be mobbed. But
they believe In the reform dress, and intend to
wear it. mob or no mob. AS to the 'legs "
concerning which the Bulletin and TELEdRAPH
are so obscenely eloquent, they are covered
by stockings, drawers, pantaloons and in some
cases. bo0ts-very much men dress their lower
extremties Is there any mmodesty or impropriety
them from cold and exposure? 1t seems to them
and to me that the immodesty and impropriety con
weather and to The gaze OF whom 1t may concern.
~. TT. t-.-' t.-.'l II. Il. r.