Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-04-12
American Girls Not Tolerated I'm
German schools.


In the conrse of an article entitled
ornament and dress, in the Herald of
Health for March, DR.. Mary Stafford says:
at pains me to say it, but perhaps we
may be benefited by seeing ourselves as
others see us, the opinions that Ameri-
can girls in Europe have won are any
thing but creditable and desirable. While
visiting a school at Frankfort-on-the-
Main, | asked If there were any Ameri-
can pupils, and the proprietor replied:
No, we do not take them; they dress so
extravagantly they think and talk so
much of their clothes, that they disturb
the quiet, simple ways of our German
girls; and we find their influence does
US more hurt than their money does us
good. In Dresden / knew an Ameri-
can lady who could not find q pri-
yate school where they would
take her daughter for similar reasons.
Who could have imagined for moment
that, when the bondage of trailing street
dresses was once removed, and short
ones sanctioned, you could ever find hu-
man beings in the shape of women yield
ing homage again to that most filthy and
abominabie Of all fashions2 But you
see. even now, the ruins of burned cities,
trailed offerings of silks and thibets. So
long as women we're kept in idleness, or
allowed to do only such work as confined
them in doors, there was need Of practi-
cality in dress. Now that she completes
with men in most of the activities of
life. shall the style Of dress not be
changed to meet this new dispensa-
tion3 Or shall we still see her in this
bondage of attire, that enslaves her at
avery step? You will find weeks of her
labor spent with each change. OF season
lin making or remodeling clothes that do
not stand gauged by the latest ukAse OF
fashion. You are invited to an evening
entertainment in Germany, at the house
Of a professor perhaps, where you meet
With persons the most intelligent and
cuItiyated-persons whose names are
known aad honored in all lands; the
hostess appears in a quaint dress OF
drab silk, that served &C her wedding
one fourteen years before; the bodice
Il long, and the sleeves are mutton
legged; but dear Mrs. Grundys pres
ence is not felt. no one seems to
scan her from head to foot and ex-
claim, "How horribly she is dressed,
how dowdy she looks" SiK month' 5
time AT least would have been expended
mon that dress, had it kept pace all Of
,bose wears with the ever recurring
Spees of fashion; and in that time,
cn the cares Of a family-snd they
win few that devolTe upon the wife
are noe ,tily-paid German professor
OF eAi -ued. with her children, TO
sIe.il sne nIs Frgl;sb & % we'll as to be able to
sPeas pea ~ ,Sose io q the guests speaking
enIeis5 enIs ,Sat lsngpaee. You .sill hnd, as .
rule, in al lands, that '"s 80 tbs
tivaied and best bred peofe - S;..js s5s
most simply and unprete -1'-ss -,
dressed. You find in Europe Wo:1e-
dressed suited to their occupation'
he French shop girl is a neatly, plAinly,
made black alpaca. The homespuh Anu
woven voolen gown Of the German ser
vant girl meets her necessities for years.
Tbe dress Of the English and Irish ser,
want rirls is made Of the same SUI ostanual
Material Bat let them emigrate 70
America and what do you see 1.-THE epi-
5snic rage for dress attaching them
;v,n,eiiatslv. As soon as Bridget has
-athered together a few silver dollars,
~ tskes her mistress for q prototyps'
aod eoes forth, with prayer-book IN hand,
to 81 Navier's, az gurEeousiy nrrafea -
the mistress to St. Pauls.