Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-10-18
GIRLS TROUSERS.

HE MAN w llO INkCoAhcNbrp h1s"'
1t appears that male correspondent ot
certain English publication, intepded
for the behoof Of the fair sex, has been
taking the liberty of venting his views
on this delicate subject, and We have no
objection to add to the publicity he has
sought, conscious at the same time, with
what a gingerly touch the topic must be
handled. He thinks that long trousers,
of linen or cambria, trimmed with need
le-work or lace, are feminine enough
despite their name and shape. To DO
quite beautiful, he insists that they
should be brilliantly white, very stiffiy
starched, and long enough to reach the
feet, and even, perhaps, slightly hide
the insteps. \ certain degree of plain
ness is admissible, but he is peTemptory
in insisting on at least one deep hem.
The highest style OF trousers, however,
ought TO have rich needle-work borders,
with strips of insertion, and, on dress
occasion, bright colored ribbon run IN
the work, or lace founces, or various
trimmings of finely wrought muslin.
lie laments the trousers of this descrip-
ton which were worn twenty years ago
and drops the tear of admiration over
the departed pantalet. Amid so much
vivacity and enthusiasm of description
we gladly make allowance for few
rhetorical exaggera,ions. But one sen
tence-thc key-note 10 the whole-is SO
remarkable that We cannot allow it to
pass uuchallenged. Alier bali n column
of eulogy upon the pantalets of twenty
years ago the correspondent makes tho
following remarkable avowal; IL think
that hat of one of the many pretty
shapes which have been worn for somo
years past, with the glossy hair floating
over the shoulders. the figure displayed
by tight-ftting dress, looped-up
skirt, full at the hips; Il bright-colored
sash, tied behind the petticoa,s exces-
sively short, fully displaying long, bril-
liantly white trowSers, falling graceful
ly across the instep, just showing tho
open-worked stocking, and the feet
flashing brightly in the pretty patent
leather shyes and sandals | have written
of before, constitute the most piquant,
dainty and captivating costumes devised
for girls. Thus attircd in dress singu-
larly appropriately aud characteristic,
because 50 becoming, childlIke and mod
est girls might well wear it till much
more womanly age, and if young ladies
in their teens would believe how much
more fascinating they look in tho
youthful aud lady like dress propose
they would adopt it with pleasure and
retain it without hesitation, and would
admit its convenience, propricty and cl!
egance'"
We admire the thoroughly artistic
fire displayed by the writer. lie has
evidently iamiliarized himself with his
subject and kept il tediotisly before him
ever since the age of adolescence Wo
are at loss, however, Us TO the spirit
in which his recommendations will be
receiyed by the laGics. That this is an
era of progress is unquestionable, and
if. in our advance, the fair sex finds IL
necessary to borrow n wrinkle from tho
past, we have nothing 10 say against.
Miss Bloomer did what she could 10
save her sisters, and the world is famil-
lar with the result But even Miss
Bloomer never went so far as 10 recon-
mend young girls IN their teens, that is
to say, of any age below twenty to wear
their petticoats excessively short, say to
the knees, and exc out the scantincss Of
the drapery with brilliantly white trou
sers descending to the instep. Such
costume would probably he ''riquant,'
dainty" and, even perhaps, "captiya-
ting" to certain order Of admirers.
Whether it would be "singularly appro.
pirate and characteristic" whether IL
would present claims to being consid.
cred ''becoming, child like and modest
in mal1'iageable young ladies, and, final
~, whether, having been once adopted,
il would deserve 10 be retained by
young ladies' on account Of its "coDyc-
nience, propriety, elegance, or on any
account whatever, we leave the aiders
and abettors Of innovations in female
dress TO determine. One question we
should like to ask and that il, 10 how
mature an age the founccd trousers and
the excessively short petiicoats might
advantageously be rctaincd' II TO the
age of nineteen, why not twenty; II
twenty, why not twenty-fiyei The age
at which the pantalet is required to be
laid aside might become very tender
question:; and we can imagine maiden
lady, of years too numerous to mention,
clinging with passionate ardor to the
frilled panties Of early girlhood. Be
side, if trousers of such vast dimensions
are appropriate before marriage, the as
sumption of another species Of the same
genus Of garment night seem to bc
sanctioned in the woman after marriage.
Looked at in this light the theme in
wolves too many male interests to forma
calm element in masculine discussion,
and SO We leave it for the present.
Why SmorLD Any Mas SwEAR II
can conceive Of no reason Why he