Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-02-18
,. 80 Fashion.

ns RfLsTioS z tickle goidess should have
! ne NetaIies oSure-room OF the Congrega-
thTonged the 4 SATURDAY pm, to hear Mrs
tlonsl Capitalization Of What fashion has
ChaBsiier1s dong for American women, but
dome amt A number Of sensible wives
they fhers were there, however. The lectu-
reke love Of beauty is innate in the human
| al, and il Is not true that the mad devotion of
'~oman 10 dress Is the result of personal vanity
alone, or even chiefly. Iii aAlind, often gro
te>que
REACHING AFTER bRsUrY.
Bnt wonen sadly, fatally ere IN. not taking the
Nature clearly indicates, in the form of .
woman, in healfhful reluiremesfs. in climate.
temperature, ia beaatiful colors- and in man
fold ways beside, what raiment she desires her
formed, depraved tastes render ue an easy prey
10 the tricks Of The tra<iesmen on both sides Of
the water. Suppose eur dwellings TO be con-
structed upon model planned acsoss the ocean,
without reference TO car climate, oar American
modes of living, our physical demands, our
means, our health or our comfort Yet that is
the stupid way in which we are led i'm that
which comes nearer to us than our hOuses-the
dress We wear.
oUR GRANpNoTHERs
have injured this whole geueratiOn with their
broad-board corset, and we, already diseased
from many other causes beside, ard lacking
their Piampness and beauty, are eanpleting
and PADDING until the woman who retires at
night Il - unlike the one who walked by day
that We need not wonder
THE BRIDEGROOM,
frightened by the dissoIying view. does not
knew which u the bride, the clsthes or the wo-
man. The dress of the Friendsis simple enough,
nient. The primitive Methodist dress, designed
to be repuIsiye, died out for lack of beauty.
When man was recognized as creator of the
child master OF the woman, and dispOser of the
daughter, he arrayed himself accordingly in
gorgeous apparel: but with the partial elevation
Of woman his pride has taken q new departure,
and the average American man nevrakes pride
in the dress Of his wife. While he eoGsults free
dom, ease, convenience, and health in his own
dress, he is glad to know that his wife and
daughters represent his resources in their ward
supports several strong women, whose ives are
history Of wasted time, wasted strength, vast
eel money, and wasted opportunities, and the
recording angel weeps over
THE WRECKED HOUSEHOLD.
Emily Faithful says the larger number of
those who come to her in extreme destitxtiOn
and daughters o. clergymen and other men of
moderate income who have been accustomed to
being supported, and have never learned any
means whatever OF earning, aceumniaung. "a
ossn country give the same testimony. 1t il but
a step from helpless restitution to hopeless
degradation. Women in this republic have es-
tsblished a caste in dress which makes a young
woman whose father has an income of 81 800
feel tsat she must compete with the young lady
whose. father has SIS 800 per aEnu m, and the
u III
Keep pace with the one who receives SIS a
week.
THE DEMANDS eF FASHION
are more imperative than the demands of vir-
tue. and Young lady feels more disgraced by
an questionable garment than by soiled under
clothing o. diiapidated morals Grinder x Co.,
willing TO swell the list OF lost sheep, offer a
young lady s. a week for constant labor. and
when she states that it is impossible to even
purchase food and shelter for that sum they po-
litely inquire if she has not some gentleman
@lxaL xal.
more blandly, A'We win give you $40 a week,
and you need not work at ALL" Fashion gives
THE YouNG WOMAN AT SCHOOL
six times much 10 learn as formerly, but less
time in which to learn it; and gives no time for
the practical training which would enable her
Ia earn her own living. Her dependence for
support is upon the Ilan whom she must, with
captivating giances. secure for husband.
Way do the daughters of Fashion so freely
expose their charms in the salons, if not to al
lure Ben by these exhibitions? Is it not con-.
slant ministry TO the refined sensuality Of the
age, and an admission that this is to be regarded
as the chief object for which women are to be
clothed and sheltered and fed? What mu st men
think n, of these women? What do they think?
The French corset, with its prominent bust and
hips, nav be iBpocently worn by those who do
not study its object, but the effect is Just as dis
astrous to pure thoughts in the observer.
THE CHARGES AGAINST PRESENT FASHIONS
Y. The tight ligatures, pressing, COMPRISING
and depressing natures proper development.
health, and endangering motherhood. 8. Expo
sure TO draughts of air around the lower limbs.
4. Padding and packing to give an impression
of sensuality. 5. Its general dishonesty accus-
toming women to cheats and frauds and impOsi-
tons. 8. Its tendency to deprave the blood and
the thoughts and to exclude the Holy Spirit,
which might more easily flow in with pure air
and free circulation. :. Its trailing skirts svm-
bOiiZing weakness and degradation and seilsual-
ty, following after the ~erpents rather than the
doves, and indicating bondage instead Of free
q Let 49, a.
Whole an invention of evil spirits to keep women
in bondage. and in the life of the harem, rather
than permit her TO rise to the fun stature of
glorious womanhood.
THE REMEDIES ARE:
!; The strong determination OF women of the
middle classes to invent, adopt. and populariZe
a style OF dress that shall be modest, economi-
cal. durable, beautiful. healthful, and conve-
nient. 2. Training our girls to be as free from
the dominion of fashion as their brothers are,
ard to seek for mental and moral charms rather
than external display. B. Taking the whole
gu estiOn OF fashion out of the hands of those
" hose interest 1t is to prepare shams and frauds
and regulating ii for ourselves as American
wives and mothers. 4. Avoiding the example
Of the wives Of the representatives Of the people
who are only known by dresses black or dresses
white, dresses blue or dresses green, and eh0os-
ing walk and conversation that shall raise the
standard of American womanh0Qd, and render
dress subordinate consideration.
Mrs. Chandler closed by an appeal to women
TO rise for the sake Of womanhoOd. cast of their
shaekles and transmit liberty to their daugh-
tiers. -
The closing lecture of the course will be in the
lecture room OF the Congregational Church, 10th
and q streets, on Friday evening, February
18th. Subject: Masculine and Feminine Law,
and the duties OF Parentage
TIE INAUGURATION BALL is now the absorb
ing topic of conversation in fashionable circles.
The arrangements are being rapidly perfected,
and the display of beauty and style will probably