Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-10-31
From the Chicago Tribune.
THE DRESS REFORM MOVEMENT.

Naturally enough, it was impossi-
BILE for the Woman's Congress, which
was in session in this city last week,
to adjourn without discussing the
dress question. 1t has been a staple
subject with the gentle sex since the
days of Eve. 1t has been discussed
from Alpha to Omega. Innumera-
BILE resolutions have been passed and
never followed. Of all woman-kind,
Eve was the most fortunate. Her
dress was simple enough, and beau
full enough, and there was none to
find fault with it but Adam. She
had no fashions to follow, no corsets,
no bustles, no trails; no dress-mak-
er's or milliner's bills; and, had it
not been for her unfortunate appe-
tite, would have been happy all her
life. Her .talsr pas, however, en-
tailed upon her daughters among
other burdens, that of dress. The
ladies who were in session here last
week wrestled valiantly with it, as
they have many times before, but
eatj bono? Mrs. Flynt, who seems to
have an eye on the main ceanee, ad-
vocated a style of dress on which
see has a patent-right. Her inven-
tion, which consists of the usual ar
ticles of wearing apparel, fastened
together by strings, tapes, straps,
and buttons, so as to make the whole
fabric hang from the shoulders in
stead of the hips, attracted much
curiosity and some favor; but when
Mrs. Flynt proceeded to advocate
the abolition of the corset, these
lovely women rose in rebellion
against any interference with their
dearest vested right. Even Mrs.
Livermore shook her head obviously
and wanted to know how she was to
overcome the "all-gone" feeling she
often had if she had no corsets to
hold her up. Mrs. Flynt proposed
warm milk and water, sweetened a
little, as an excellent tonic-a sug-
gestion which created as much dis
gust as the lamented Eccles expe-
rienced when he found the milk
pitcher where the gin should have
been. Mrs. Vibbard, of Boston, had
remedy for the "all-gone" feeling
consequent upon the loss of corsets.
She said, that those who took their
corsets off and suffered with the sail
gone" feeling, should make their
husbands manipulate their bodies
until they felt strong, and a reaction
took place. A simultaneous and Ylg-
orous rustling of fans all over the
hall followed this suggestion, IN the
midst of which an ancient sPlnster
tartly asked "what they were to do !
who shed their corsets and had no
brebondsy' The most of these Ia
dies are of the strong-minded sort,
engaged in preparing the way for a
declaration of independence, and
this makes them dependent upon the |
tyrant man. What are they going |
to do? Are they to utilize some
other woman's husband? For in
stance, Miss Anthony was present.
We doubt whether she ever had the |
"all-gone" feeling, but if she does
whose husband Is she to take? She |
has shown, to be sure, that she ap- |
preciates the rest that can be found
on Mrs. Tilton's husbands knee, but |
even that would not be a compensa-
tion for oorsets, nor would 1t cure
the "all-gone" feeling. There was
much desultory discussion of the
corset question, but no definite re-
suit was reached; and the shapely !
article of female wear which cuts
such a distinguished appearance IN
the shop windows, and sets of so
many fascinating lay-fgures in front
of the dry-goods stores, is llkeiy 70
remain undiSturbed. So may 1t al
ways be. No one should be permit
ted to lay ruthless hands upon IT,
The femalo-dress question seems
To ms a very simple one, when GER
to;n elementary facts are considered.
First, there is no doubt that it needs
reform. Second, there is no doubt
that fashion is absolute in its sway
over the female breast. Third,
there is no doubt that every woman
aims to look as pretty as she can.
Fourth, there is no doubt that she
ought to do so. The woman who
does not care how she looks is an
idiot. Now the dress-reformers, be-
fore they can introduce their reforms
must consult these fundamental |
facts. They must recognize the
fact that all women want to look
pretty, and viii look pretty as they