Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1872-11-22

Finally we got little quoted, though,
naturally enough, our thoughts still ran on
lress.
IL am disguised with myself" said Lou
really am, l don't want to be fashionable;
couldn't afford il If did: but my tastes
are all plain and simple. l consider such
an overloaded, pulled out concern as this not
only ridiculous, but vulgar yet here l am
wearing it and l lose my self.respeot in con-
sequence. But how could help myself
How in the world did you manage, Hester,
TO get a sensible dress made ?"
"Just by my horribly obstinate temper"
said Hester, laughing "First 1 had
pitched battle with Mrs. Outfit, and came of
then | ran the gauntlet Of her
twenty sewing-girls, who opened all their
forty eyes in holy horror, at the trying
on"
81 should as soon think of fighting Hercu-
les" said Lou. There's no place where l
am SO thoroughly cowed as in dress.makers'
rooms. don't dare to peep or mutter."
Eyes amiable people like you rather sub
nit than make fuss"
"But they ought to make a fuss" said
Lou; ats 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 it2"
asked.
"Why not form an anti-fashion society"
said Hester, "and get all sensible women to
pledge themselves to dress according to
their own ideas of propriety, without regard
to fashion2 Union is strength, and organ
lied effort the order of the day.
"Capital!" cried Lou, "we'll draft and
sign declaration of independence; and you
Hester, shall put down your name with q
great dash, John Hancock-like."
an make out the list of grievances"
said [.
EASY enough to do that" said Lou;
"wornout mothers, bankrupt fathers, neglect
ed babies, disguised husbands
"Hold there !" l cried. Husbands are
as fond of dress as wives, so far as my ex'
perience goes"
"Why do they keep up such an everlast-
ing fault-fnding with our extravaganza,
then2"
"Well, my dear, men are not always Sc
verely consistent they are eloquent on that
theme, know; but put a plainly-dressed
girl on one side Of man, a auttering 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 a measure responsible
for the evil" said Hester
$50 tell Tom," said. "Let every man
who approves OF simplicity and economy de-
vote himself to the plainost-dressed girl in
the room, turning cold shoulder on those
who wear diamonds and such like sinful
things, and he will do more to effect re-
formation 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 NOR
ais would soon follow"
At this point in our discussion l heard
Toms step in the hall and with him came
Prof. Downing, an old friend of his, whom
he had asked to dine with US. The profess
or is a fne-looking man, besides being learn.
ed, agreeable, and bachelor. Now, Tom
and | never make matches but, having had
such good time together ourselves, we dc
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
her
Moreover, knowing his refined, almost Sc
we're taste, and his dislike Of all display,
had all the morning inwardly chuckled over
Hester's untrimmed dress it was so exactly
the thing to suit his lastidious taste. How
lucky it was she wore it
The dinner passed off delightfully."-. Tom
was in his most hospitable mood Lou anC
Hester brilliant the professor genial and
the soups. salmon, and roast lamb, all being
done to a turn, the hostess serene. The
learned professor aud the pretty Hes
ter could not have come together
under more suspicious influences and Ton
and had great oomplacency in our littl'
plan.
A few days after, Tom told me he hat
been drawing the professor out little oil
our guests.
"Aud what did he say of Hester ?"
asked eagerly.
"He said this Miss Graywood is Ger
tainly quite pretty; but what pity it is sh
doesn't dress better Your friend, Miss Liv
ermore, sets her good example there"
Tho horrid man and he pretending t,
have classic tastes |" cried. And twill yol
believe it p Tom and are now both quit
sure that the professor, who detests fashio
aud frippery, who admires only "chasto de
signs" and "classic outlines" is actually il
love with Lou. And the balloon did it =
yes, the balloon did it
Oh the consistency of men !-OA anu
| NetD.