Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-11-22


med gray silk, she made low obeisance.
81 do the homage, thou most heroic Of
womankindw she cried. "I cast myself
in the dust at thy feet, envy, adore
thee, thou woman who darestp'
Finally we got little quieted; though,
naturally enough, our thoughts still ran
on dress.
II am disgusted with myself" said
Lou; ~ really am. l don't want to be
fashionable. couldn't afford it if did;
bat my tastes are all plain and simple. /
consider such an overloaded, pulled out
concern as this not only ridiculous, but
vulgar; yet here am wearing 1t, and !
lose my self-respect in consequence. But
how could help myself9 how in the
world did you manage, Hester, to get
sensible dress made?'
"Just by my horribly obstinate tenn.
per-" said Hester, laughing. First had
a pitched battle with Mrs. Cuttit, and
came oil victorious; then ran the gaunt-
let Of her twenty sewing girls, who open
cd all their forty eyes in holy horror at
the trying-on.'"
81 should as soon think of fghing
Hercules" said Leu. "Therc's no place
where l am so thoroughly cowed as in
dressmakers' rooms. don dare to peep
or mutter."
e Yes, amiable people like you rather
submit than make fuss"
But they ought to make fuss" said
Lou, "it's sheer cowardice in my case,
not amiability. Every lady's dress should
be an expression of her own individual
taste and character but look at US! we
are all turned out just alike, like so many
ninepins."
"Well, what is to be done about it ~
asked.
"Why not form an anti-fashion So
ciety," said Hester, "and get all sensible
women to pledge themselves to dress ac-
cording to their own ideas of propriety,
without regard TO fashions Union is
strength, and organized effort the order
of the day."
Capital p cried Lou; "we'll draft
and sign declaration of independence
and you, Hester, shall put down your
name with great dash, John Hancock
| like"
"l'll make out the list of grievances, +"
said 1.
easy enough to do that" said Lou ;
"worn-out mothers, bankrupted fathers,
neglected babies, disgusted husbands -
"Hold there I" / cried. Husbands
are as fond of dress as wives, so far as
| my experience goes.
"Why do they keep up such an ever
lasting fault-fnding with our extrava-
gance, then 2"
"Well, my dear, men are not always
severely consistent; they are eloquent on
that theme, | know; but put plainly
dressed girl on one side of a man, and a
fluttering piece of millinery on the other,
and ten to one he will be enchanted with
the latter. John Seymour is not the only
victim of pink and white tyranny"
"Then men are in measure response
BILE for the evil" said Hester.
$50 1 tell Tom," l said. "Let every
man who approves of simplicity and
economy, devote himself to the plainest
dressed girl in the room, turning a cold
| shoulder on those who wear diamonds
and such like sinful things, and he will
do more to effect reformation than by
years Of preaching. Girls like to please
nice young men, and no harm done
either, just as young men like to please
nice young girls. The influence is mutual
and wholesome. Let young men frown
on extravagantly dressed young women,
and young women scorn all dissipated,
fast young men, and vital change in
manners and morals would soon follow"
At this point in our discussion heard
Toms step in the hall; and with him
came Prof. Downing, an old friend of
his, whom we had asked to dine with us.
The professor is a fine.looking man,
besides being learned, agreeable, and
bachelor. Now, Tom and never
make matches; but, having had such
good time together ourselves, we
do sometimes wish certain of our
friends would take fancy to each
other; and the night before we had spoken
of the professor and Hester, saying how
nice it was he should happen to be in the
city just then to meet herl
Moreover, knowing his refined, almost
severe taste, and his dislike of all dis
play, l had all the morning inwardly
chuckled over Hester's untrimmed dress
fastidious taste. How lucky it was she
wore it,
The dinner passed off delightfully."-.
| Tom was in his most hospitable mood;
| Lou and Hester brilliant; the professor
genial; and, the salmon and roast lamb
all being done to turn, the hostess
serene. The learned professor and the
pretty Hester could not have come to-
| gether under more auspicious influences;
and Tom and had great complacency in
our little plan.
A few days after. Tom told me he had
been drawing the professor out little on
our guests.
"And what did he say of Hester?" 1
asked eagerly.
"He said this Miss Graywood is
certai inly quite pretty; but what pity it
is she doesn't dress better. Your friend,
Miss Liyermore, sets her good example
there"
"The horrid mani and he pretending
to have classic fastest" cried. And
Twill you believe itO Tom and are now
detests fashion and frippery, who ad-
mires only "chaste designs" and "classic
outlines" is actually in love with Lou.
And the balloon did it!-yes, the balloon
did itl
Oh, the consistency of men!-Od and
Nei0.