, 1874-07-26
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From the Gedtr AoE.
Tho efforts of women in various parts OF the
country to change the Ety1e Of dress worn by
their sex show that there is q deep and wide
spread dissatisfaction with the present fashion.
Mrs. Bloomer gained m unenyiabe fame many
years ago By courageously proposing 3 costume
which needed q man inside Of It, Estimable vo-
man, and devoted wife and mother too, she found
it Was easier to propose than to dispose, and
that while anybody could condemn prevalent
fashions it required genius of the first order to
Invent better aud get them adopted But the
Boomerang excited the ridicue which is the
foreiunner Of reform People throw stones first
and then build monument.
A number Of notifications Of HRS. Boomers
idea have been suggested. but mono lavo get
succeeded in satisfying both the needs and the
tastes OF any considerable number OF women.
Most Of the proposed styles have deplorably fail
ed in tho latter particular. Woman is o creature
OF faatidious il not exquisite taste. It's culture
begins in the cradle. The first lesson instiIed
look pretty. Taste ID half Of young lady'a con-
science and most Of her religion. Careful and
prudent mammas never tiro OF telling her that
Woman'a looks are OF more account to her than
she is forced to believe that shabby dress il a
Gin against the unwrittea commandments, aud
that whatever young lady would get good hus-
band muat angle for him in the most becoming 1t
not the most elegant attire. Dress is made
special object OF study with most women, and
not fow make ii % art The taste for it is q
passion in tho modern Womaus nature, which
cannot be alIayed in moment or weakened
much And most men arc somewhat affected
by it. They have become accustomed to see
beautifully and elegantly dressed ladies' TIL the
sight pleases the eye aud gratifes tho estLetio
sense. They look on splendidly-dre8sed lady
as on picture or statue, or other work OF art.
Even the poor shop-girl tr1es her best to shape
muslin and alpaca and few cheap ribbons and
laced Ia tasteful and becoming way, 80 that
her toilet shall not betray her toll il it does
please tho eye Of the young men sho meets
appearing 10 tho street in shabby or outlaudish
costume than tho guycst bello will dash her
Parents expectations and her Own prospects in
Life BY wearing mans attire
The dress reformers have not taken this fact
Sufficiently into account. They have sesailed
fashions that arc unhealthy and injurious, but in
proposing now ones they have forgotten to pro-
vide for tho clements which nature aud educa-
tion have 1nado 50 strong in the modern woman.
The new styles havo lacked just those qualities
which are necessary to make them popular. The
styles proposed by tho Boston nodlste arc said
to be capable Of any amount Of finish, elaborate
ness, elegance, and even costliness. II they are,
It ia possible they may win their WY into gen.
cral use. There ia B stronger disposition toward
an entire cEanSe IN the fashion Of their apparel
among women than ever before. The new ideas
Of health have taken doop hold On the pubic
mind Ths discomfort, aud Inconvenience, and !
unhealtLiuoss of the present fashion is gener-
ally conceded. But the new fashion must bo |
tasteful as well as 1ea thfu], it T1ll go beg
gins.