, 1874-01-25
what re hare got than to reach after eccentric
remedies for apparent deficiencies.
A RAID AGAINST FASHIo7.

RAlU AEA!NS4 EAod4eNs
Viueland, n, J., which has been tho locality
where splritualis1n, elective a7anitics, long
haired men and ehort-haired women have most
abouuded, was last week the scene of two
days' Apti-Fashion Convention, in which sense
and nonsense prevailed in about equal measure.
During the first day. the female mcmbe1a OF
tho Convention squnoblcd the mos: OF
the time over the organization. Alter this
Was completed, thc:a was just timo to
recd message from Sister Sadie Bat
leg, of Waukegan, ILL.,, who Gent the follow
ing thrilling dispatch: 'Go on in your heart
stirring mission, oh beloved agitators. to resclo
woman from tho thraldom Of the tyfant
Fashion" After this was read, Mrs. Olivia
Shepard put in the following resolution, with the
understanding, however, that it Rhou1f not be
voted upon:
Rcsolced That when the mother puts her girl into
peccas md her boy into trousers sle aeas the girls
doom ~ suve, and gives the boy ut1e-aeeo Oh
ownership which he records and presents ag.nst her
whenever In after life sho aska for equal rights with
him.
Tho next day. however, the Convention was
very lively. It opened with discourse By Mrs.
DR.. Luces, who had on tunic Of olive-green
cloth, with Knickerbockers and gaiters of the
same cloth, the tunic gathered round the waist
and spannel by d black rubber band with small
gift clasp. Hcr address was much longer than
hor dross, and as, WHEN she finished it, it only
wanted five minutes to noon, the Chairwoman
called for hye-minute speech. Mrs. Butler
came forward in compliance, and wanted to
know what the opd of al the talk WAS to be-
Was any woman going to take off one inch OF
her dress? What she proposed WIS an associa-
ton of twenty-five women, who would agree
to give up stays. furbelows, and dounces,
and shorten their skirts. To give force to her
proposition, che exhibited two young ladies OF
yineland who had never worn corsets. The
effect of the two full-waisted Venuses Was such
that the following resolution was handed round
for signatures:
We the undersigned, agree to our dresses four
inches from ground, provided twenty-five or more
Indies can b found who will cooperate with In the
reform. Mrs. E. 3. DUFFY,
ELLEN DICKINSON,
4. N. II. BARTLETT.
L. n. MUTE,
E1TA WEssELrs.
This having been signed By tho requisite NUM-
ber, q ye1y sensible old lady came forward and
showed her old black silk dress, which she had
bought nine years ago, and hinted very strongly
that some OF the ladies' in pants On the platform
spent more money and showed more vanity in
their reform dress than she did Tho old lady,
however, being regarded sa are-bEand, WAS
speedily extinguished.
The resolution which is given abo7e SUMS up
the action Of the Vineiand Convention. sifted Of
its crazy theories and moonshine propositions.
So far as this resolution is concerned it is very
seneible. It is only unfortunate that its
sweetness will be wasted upon the desert
air. The only ones who follow Fashion
are those who will never give it up. Those who
! do not follow Fashion are working-women. and
these do not wear corsots or long skirts, and
! have not the money to indulge in the expensive
reforms urged by these agitators. The absurd
ity Of some OF their propositions is shown By tho
feet that one Of tho most prominent Of the
speakers wore @ tunic and pants Of crin1-
son velvet, with gold watch-chain aluns
a1tistically across the front. Her head
| dress Was blonde wig Of little curls,
looking like spun glass, and this was sur
mounted By pages cap Of the fourteenth
century, in which an ostrich's feather WIS
| fastened BY an aigrettle Of amethysts. This
| rather elegant and expensive creature was urging
auti-fash,on reform, without being aware Of
tho fact that she had plunged from one extreme
to another, and in dropping an expensive fe-
| male fashion, had adopted still moro e1-
| pousiye male one. The short skirt, however.
| is q reform which might well be adopted for
| street wear for the sake OF cleanliness, II no
other; and the inquisitorial corset should be
abolished for the sake Of health. But, as these
reforms would be both clean1y and healthy,
| there is no immediate danger OF their coming
| into fashion.