Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1872-09-27
NUMBER 3.
My Experience.

"Why, what does she say?"
"Listen. Here in her new work, 'Wo-
mans Worth and Worthlessness, she
makes this remark: Women had better
dress unhealthy than unbecomingly.'
And l am surprised that woman of her
caliber and influence should risk her rep
utation for wisdom on such an assertion.
| know full well that most women are
now in abject slavery to the unwise and
hurtful demands of fashion, and it i'll be-
comes one like her to rivet the chains
more tightly"
"You men don't know how devoutly
thankful you ought to be for your sensi-
BILE mode of dress. Your clothing is
equally distributed over your body, lcav-
ing respiration and locomotion free,
whilst We"
''Well, why don't you women dress
sensibly, too? am sure no one would
object"
that way? You know the truth of the old
adage, You might as well be out of the
world as out of the fashion, and if were
to follow the dictates of common sense
in this matter, l should appear odd, and
subject myself to invidious remarks"
"Well, all | have to say is this: If l
were woman, / would dress to suit my
self, no matter what people would say"
l concluded to argue the question no
further with my husband but resolved,
if lived another day, to put his theory
to test. Accordingly, the next morning
I rolled my hair up In an elaborate coil,
about the size of half walnut, and dis
pensed with all superfluous supports and
drapery. Thus comfortably and classi-
cally arrayed, | descended to the break
fast table.
NV husband looked surprised, but con-
tented himself with the kindly inquiry,
eff were not well?" answered, "Per-
fectly So"
After breakfast [ congratulated myself
upon such fine arrangement, as now
need spend no time upon my toilet, but
could sit right down and have long fore
noon in which to sew.
After being thus engaged for short
time, there came tingle at the door-bell.
| answered it myself. There stood gen
tleman, who gave me small parcel, with
the request, "Please hand it to the lady OF
the house."
bobbed him a graceful courtesy, and
said, "Yis, sir"
At dinner-time my youngest hopeful
came bounding in from school, with the
salutation, "Why, ma! is that you?
didn't know YOU"
My husband seemed still more bewil-
dered, and asked, "Did have pain in
my head ? Hadn't better lie down, and
apply a wet bandage?"
| hastened to assure him that " l never
felt better in my life"
In the afternoon I concluded to put on
a good old-fashioned sun-bonnet, go into
the yard and tie up some shrubbery.
While thus engaged, | was accosted by a
man from over the fence with the inqui-
ry, "Did know of any other ssrong,
good-looking girl, like myself, he could
hire to do his housewOrk ?"
Ireplied "I did not"
"Well then, did think any of chang
ing my place if so, he would give as
good wages as anybody, perhaps better
than l was getting"
informed him |" had not the least
desire to change, for had very indulg-
ent mistress and as for the man
of the house / really liked him right
we'll And furthermore" l said, " that
no gentleman would endeaEor to hire
servant from her place" proceeded to
convince him of that fact, when he rec
objected he was in hurry, and must look
further.
Then I asked myself the question Ia la
Francis Train), "How do you like it, so
far as you have gone"
However, the worst was to come yet.
About tea time l happened to go to the
front door, when 10 and behold who
should be coming in at the gate but my
husband-and an old-time beaul Now,
if woman has one weakness above an
other, it is to appear well before quon-
Ja, ~ nt from a cnirit nf pnnI1pf-
rv, but for the satisfaction of having him
admit to himself, 'What lucky man my
rival was" Well, here was dilemma;
which horn should / take-advance or
run? Instantly chose the former, and
met him very cordially, but thought de-
tected in his quick glance an expression
which seemed to say, "Thank my stars
that I escaped that woman" He was
even so ungallant as to tell me that
had changed greatly, and had he met me
unexpectedly he should not have known
me-"
In the course of the evening, as | in
quired after my girlhood friends, he seem
ed to take especial pleasure in telling me
''they were very fine-looking women"
Finally, the evening being warm, the
gentlemen proposed a walk down town
for ice cream. / exclaimed delightedly,
"Oh, thank you; that will be nice; just
wait moment, until l get my sun-bon-
net"
Then up spoke my husband, as one hav-
ing authority, "Not in that rig, if you
please, madam"
1 said, "Why not? 1t is very comfort
able, and surely you ought to give me
credit for sufficient independence to dress
with a view to convenience rather than
appearance"
Suddenly, light broke on his mental
vision, and as explained the situation"
to our mutual friend, be joined heartily in
the merry laugh, feeling relieved that
there was no immediate necessity for
trip to a certain asylum.
So, after all, have concluded that Tin
one sense, Gail is right And while we
are in Turkey we had better do as Tur-
keys do. -C0Trespondence Wonaara's Journal.
The belt of land around the globe 500
miles north and 500 miles south of the
equator abounds in trees producing the