New-York tribune., 1873-02-17
COLLARS AND CUFFS ATvAssAR COLLEGE.


To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: A very important meeting has been held
ot Ponphkeepse The Board Of Trustees Of Yassar Col
ege met o short time ago. and In solemn council decreeu
that the necks wrists OF the 800 young women unde
their supervision should longer be encrced by those
symbols of slavery, collars and cuffs YEA Dhl mas
been promulgated from this collegiate conclaye anu
collars and cuffs under the ban, and cxcommunlca-
ton awaits the young lady who dares to disregard the
mighty anathema.
The Board in their atempttO reform wOman's dress,
have the appreciation OF all the wellwshers OF woman
hood for things growing worse every yeaTJahd tno
few independent women who viii not be bound by tho
ridiculous fashions hold captive their SEX are com
ing to look as odd and antquated as the participants IN
an Old Folks Concert. The maiorty-though 1t be a
small one-rues in fashion as well as in politics AID II
the exravagances and absurdtes OF female dress were
not continually dcrIded by sensible men, and rebeed
against by sensible women the Chnese custom OF cIhP
ing the foot the Turkish fashion OF yalllng the
might if once introduced among us, ind as sefVle loi
lows here Pcking or COnstautnOpe lrtJolc tucn
together this Of the year, when travel is SO
mpeded TO discuss measures for reform IN ieiae des
II they had been convened 10 I'LL vacant chair To elect
Professor of metap1y sizes or political economy OF
adopt course of instruction, there would De nom
ing astonishing In the fact; but that Dress REFORM
theme heretofore supposed to be the exclusive hoDny OF
angular old maids and long haired men, should attract
the attention and claim the thought OF board OF college
trustees composed Of men, Is, 10 the least very en-
couagng those who look forward 10 that happy DAY
when women will think more OF their brains thah OF
their decorations. 80,
Long and deeply must the Board have considered The
important subject before Them TO have come to such
conclusion. To be sure they saw nothing 10 cOluenn
In the tight cOrsets that gradually squeezing the ne
out Of many the Vassar girls, they are dong 10
thousands without its precincts nor did they discover
anything reform in the pounds OF false hair weighing
on their heads or In the rich dresses or me cosli
ewelry. These were trihes-it was collars anu Guns
that needed to be Topped of from the slekly and
uDsgltIy tree Fashion, and mandate 10 TINS tltc
was forthwith issued Though the wicked Vassar girls
must weld Just fate and be bere OF Their precious
ceryical and carpa appendages, lfear they WIZ resort
for consolation TO buying richer necklaces ana
broader bracelets and thus necessate another meeting
OF the Board, when-et US hOpe-endOwed with more
wisdom than they seem TO possess, they VIII see
that the absurde and consequent mischief OF Fashion
cannot be corrected by prOhbitOry means bat only Dy
instilng into the mind OF budding womlnhoOd IDEAS
that will lift her high above the foibes OF dress III the
FIcuy of Vassar College do this, the evils OF dress W
be combated in the most effective way possible II
tbey do not do it, let Board Of Trustees begin thelr
reform there, and allow the pOOr girls 10 wear lnef
harmless collars and cntis. J. =
Nep- York. Feb 3, 1873.