Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-08-29
Dressing Low.

From the Home Journal.l
No woman ever dresses low from a
high motive. No lady ever goes to the
opera Continues the Cosmopolitan, to
balls nor dinner parties with her bosom
sare, for the purpose of pleasing her
husband or her affianced lover Neither
does she denude her breast for the graft
fcation of her own sex. What, then,
can be the motive for this scandalous
undressing in public2 Let us treat this
delicate subject philosophically, yet
fearlessly. We readily confess that there
is nothing so exquisitely beautiful on
earth as the form, the bust of beautiful
woman. And for this very reason il
should not be exposed to the wanton
gaze of vulgar eyes. No woman who
truly loves her husband ever desires to
exhibit her charms sacred, secret
sweet and precious to any eye but his.
And yet what do we see, or, rather, what
do we not see in the shape of naked arms
shoulders, backs and bosoms at every
evening gathering among what is called
the best society2" One Is continually
reminded of the sarcasm of DR.. Frank
lin, nearly one hundred years ago, who
when present at one of these gatherings
of undressed English women, was asked
if he had ever seen anything like it be
fore, blushingly replied, mot since
was weaned." But we need not now
dwell on the fact of the existence OF this
fashionable scandal. Let us strike al
the root of this immoral custom OF low
dressing" The motive, as we have said
is not a good one We have heard men
who consider themselves connoisseurs at
these exhibitions of female nudity de
clare that they like to see it, but would
not like to see their own wives halt
naked in public" No man who prop
erly prizes and appreciates his wife ever
did, or ever will, like to see his better
half exposing her naked bust in public.
1t is clear and conclusive then, that this
low-necked fashion never was designed
or followed for the delectation of hus'
bands. And even women will always
pick to pieces" the most audacious
addressed belle of the ball. Why, then,
do women indulge in this immodest, i'm
moral and unhealthy style OF dress
One is afraid to press the question to
an honest, logical solution. The true
answer is derogatory to woman. She
hares her bust to excite something more
than envy in woman and admiration IN
men. And this she knows full well
when she looks at her undraped form
in the mirror in the character OF
statue vivante 1t is, in plain
English simply the fashion and the
art of seduction. There-we have got
the word out which has long been stick
ing in our throat Decolette dresses are
only fit to be worn by wantons, who are
sufficiently honest to confess their pur-
nose. On the score of health the fash
ion cannot be too severely denounced.
How many fatal cases of consumption
have been caused by sudden exposure to
the chill, midnight air, on coming out
of steaming ball ll-rooms and opera houses
with the most vital part of the body un-
protected? On the tombstone OF many
a beautiful woman might be truly IN
soribed. death from low-necked dresses.
Turning again to the moral aspect OF the
folly. it is no eKaggeration to say that
more cases OF seduction, elopement, ana
domestic ruin have Arissa from these
wanton temptations than from all ether
social causes. The apples OF Eve are
too tempting TO the hungry eyes ot our
yielding Adams. Therefore, let all mod,
est women remember the injunction OF
the noef-