The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-11-05
RSrE>~s Reform
The Chicago journal gives the follow

The Chicago Journal gives the follow
ing report by woman of a scene at the
fourth session of the women's congress
held in that city, when Mrs. Liverm0re
introduced Mrs. Flint, the lady who was
advertised as being the Dl0diSte who was
to display her new styles of women's and
children's dress. Mrs. Flint proceeded
to display to the audience a mannikin
arrayed in an elastic garment; which
purported to be at once chemise, drawers,
stockings and carriers. The garment,
though nude in separate pieces, could be
put on In one piece. There Is no one
who has ever attempted to put on all the
different necessary children garments on
a squirming little one bat will appreciate
the convenience OF this combination gar
ment With them was displayed Il garment
of similar pattern, designed for girls,
with few changes in the mode OF fasten-
ing the garment. Bands Of non-elastic
braid were placed over the shoulders OF
the garment, ard from the elastic braids
depending from them other garments
were intended to be buttoned. At this
iuncture some confusion enSued because
of the entrance Of the representative Of
the forbidden sex, and who, upon being
mt out. could be heard in the distance
asserting that che DIDN'T know. Mrs.
Flint, on being questioned, responded
that the material was a woven Imported
material, to he replaced in summer by
cossamer flannel; that she was not able
to fill one Quarter Of the orders she re-
ceived, and would be glad TO have some
manufacturer take hold Of the matter.
n cI,n W. r n
which the skirt was to be attached by
buttons at the waist. Here the doll with
his Cor herr preternaturally red cheeks
was laid on its face, and another doll OF
remarkably we'll developed proportions
was brought forward. This figure was
supposed to represent lady, and was
dressed simply in an elastic shirt, with
band. on the under side of which the cot
ton drawers were to be buttoned four
inches below the waist. From q second
row Of buttons the other drawe RS end the
stockings were to be suspended. This obVi-
at d all necessityfor numerous lands about
the waist Next came red flannel vest,
the cloth imported by A. /. Stewart, bus
the fashion being of Mrs Fiints devising.
The value of this garment was SAID to be
that it was an abdominal support, and
had its fnIlness properiy arranged about
the shoulders and breast. To this gar
ment were more elastic straps and buttons
and button holes. Query from lady IN
the audience-'.Is there any law against
any lldy's initiating these garment"
MRs. FLINT. "There is' most emphat-
ically.) 1t has taken all the money
could raise and scrape to make It :. /
want it understood that no lady must take
anv hints from this for her own use
(Murmurs of derisi0n and disgust. in
fact. they are to be sold so cheap that no
lady can afford to do it. ,NoindivIduai,
man or woman, must make, ~ we"r or 10
yend, any of these articles.
Next was shown an undefdress ofwhite
cotton cloth, Ipnr. siender, without gath
ers intended 10 button collars and cuffs
upou. and 10 take the place of a skirt
Mrs. Flint then stepped forward TO dis
play the styls Of outer dress that he wore
II was a black silk, well ruffied up the
front. and the waist being simply well
trimmed sacdue. Mrs. Flint stated that
She was two hundred pounds IN weight
(Ruzzing and laughter liz the crowd J
She had discarded corsets, and related
how the tiphtness of the armholes OF a
washed dress had led her into a train OF
thought which resulted in her present
stvle of dress. Mrs. Livermore inter
rnpted the speaker to say that Mrs. Flint
had stated. in private conversation, that
e f,tladies who were troubled by changes
in their figure, would adopt this loose
stvle of dress. thew would find that nature
would take care of these matters. Mrs
Livermore wished to know what she
sbould do when she was "all gone for
want of the support of co. sets?