The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-22

We know of no excuse for man writing
to q woman's magazine on the subject of
trousers for girls short of his having success
fully worn the article himself. It appears
that male correspondent Of certain Eng
lish publication intended for the behoof of the
fair sex has been taking the liberty Of vent
ing 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 gingerly touch the topic must be
handled. He thinks that long trousers Of
linen or cambria, trimmed with needlework or
lace, are feminine enough, despite their name
and shape. To be quite beautiful, he
insists that they should be brilliantly
white, very stifly starched and long enough
to reach the feet, and even, perhaps, slightly
hide the insteps. A certain degree of plain
ness is admissible, but he is peremptory in
insisting on at least one deep hem. The high
est style of trousers, however, ought to have
rich needlework borders, with strips of inser-
| ton, and, on dress occasion, bright colored
ribbon run in the work, or lace hounces or
various trimmings Of finely wrought muslin
He laments the trousers of this description
which were worn twenty years ago, and drops
the tear of admiration over the departed
pantalet. Amid SO much vivacity and enthu-
siasm of description we gladly make allowance
for few rhetorical exaggerations. But one
sentence-the keynote to the whole-is SO re-
markable that we cannot allow it to pass un.
challenged After half column of eulogy
upon the pantalets of twenty years ago the
correspondent makes the following remarkable
avowal :-'T think that hat of one of the
many pretty shapes which have been worn for
some years past, with the glossy hair floating
over the shoulders, the figure displayed by a
tight-itting dress, looped-up skirt, full at
the hips; bright-colored sash, tied behind;
the pettcoats excessively short fully display
ing long. brilliantly white trousers, falling
gracefully across the instep just showing the
openworked stocking, and the feet flashing
brightly in the pretty patent leather shoes
and sandals have written of before, consti-
tute the most piquant, dainty and captivating
costume devised for girls. Thus attired in
dress singularly appropriate and characteristic,
because SO becoming, childlike and modest,
girls might we'll wear it till much more
womanly age, and if young ladies in their
teens would believe how much more fascinat-
ing they look in the youthful and ladylike
dress I propose they would adopt it with
pleasure and retain it without hesitation. and
would admit its convenience, propriety and
elegance.
We admire the thoroughly artistic fire dis
played by the writer. He has evidently famil-
iarized himself with his subject and kept it
sedulously before him ever since the age of
adolescence. We are at loss, however, as to
the spirit in which his recommendations will
be received by the ladies' That this is an era
of progress is unquestionable, and if, in our
advance, the fair sex finds it necessary to Dor
row wrinkle from the past, we have nothing
to say against it. Miss Bloomer did what she
could to save her sisters and the world is
familiar with the result. But even Miss
Bloomer never went 80 far as to recommend
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 scantness of the drapery with bril-
liantly white trousers descending to the instep.
Such costume would probably be ''piquant,"
''dainty'' and even, perhaps, ''captivating,' to
certain order Of admirers. Whether it would
be ''singularly appropriate and characteris-
TIC" whether it would present claims to being
considered "becoming, childlike and modest
in manageable young ladies, and, finally,
whether, having been once adopted, it would
deserve to be retained by young ladies on &C
count of its convenience prcpriety and ele-
gance" 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 is
to how mature an age the founced
trousers and the excessively short petticoats
might advantageously be retained? If to the
age of nineteen, why not twenty; if twenty,
why not twenty-five? The age at which the
pantalet required to be laid aside might be-
come a 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. Besides,
if trousers of such vast dimensions are appro-
pirate before marriage, the assumption Of
another species of the same genus of garment
might seem to be sanctioned in the woman
after marriage. Looked at in this light the
theme involves too many male interests to
form calm element in masculine discussion,
and so we leave it for the present.
The CHOLERA IN WARRINGTON cholera
is spreading from the West to the East A
case is reported in Washington. The season
is favorable for its general expansion, and
our city is still in condition to give full
| faoot to tba draadad pesfiIeuca Wa bova p,