Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-31
Women,s Dress.
MRS. SwIssHFLN EXPLAINS TIE MERITS OF A

HEw ADAPTATION.
Before the wOman's congress at Chicago Mrs.
Is helm save al elaborate explanation OF
vi at is Necessary in the way OF female dress re-
fUID. From the Chicago Tribune's report We
eNrrfc the following:
Mis-. SwissheIm's get in" was a combination
OF chemise and drawers. The front was cut
me piece. with q plaIt laid from shoulder to
sist in front to admit of the funess required
bN the bust. 1t was faced around the shoulder
md under the arm. A facing in the shape of a
V Was placed on the back. The top W as cut
tie same as any drawers These were
buttOned at the ride. She wore cotton be-
cause che preferred it, but any person
could wear flannel inside and butt1n the
garments through onto the others, or they
could make the garment Of flannel. 1t was
very large, but she did not use il TO support
weight No weight should ever be hung to a
knit garment. Mrs. SwisShelm uses unbesched
cotton instead Of merinO or flannel. 1t should
be washed through hot water without soap, and
folded smoothly without ironing. This sbsorbs
tie gases about as thoroughly as flannel. This
garment was in place of what the Boston ladies
called q chimilson. She didn't like that name,
but dn't know that "get i'm was much better.
The dress she wore was new, having been made
fifteen years ago, and was very long on the
shoulder. She shouldn't like to set type it al
cay. The reason why women could not COM
Twenty years ago she had organized a body of
female type settlers in Pittsburg She had them
dress suitably, and they had kept their places
for years after she had left.
Again, in Minnesota she had taught a young
girl type setting. She (Mrs. S. had learned all
she knew in two hours from a male typo. aud
then had set Up as boss printer. and had sue
ceeded. .She had carried the business for seven
years. She taught this young girl in MinnesO-
r., and in one year she had grown so perfect in
her profession that she set up four sticks of legal
advertising with only three mistakes, a thing no
male typo in ST. Paul could do. Then, during
the Indian troubles, this Young girl and another,
" hen sll the men ran away, stayed and con-
uEuet type setting. The news came in, friends
nsSsacred in this place, Fort AbercrOmbie at
Tackled, everyone flying, the Indians upon them,
ard still these two girls went on setting type,
and they got out their paper regularly.
But wont n cannot compete With men unless
their arms are free. That is one reason why
they never equsl them in playing on the piano.
Next Mrs. SWissheim showed her
4" CARRY-ALL."
This was very much like loose basque, with
bread bands over the shoulders, buttons on the
for the fastening of the stocking supporter.
These are elastic, with two tapes that are TO be
fastened through loops in the stockings. They
are simply tied through, but all the weight
comes under the arm, and If there is any strain
II is Oh the shoulder. 1t was not made high
neoked, because Mrs. Swisshelm preferred ven.
ulatiOn, and there she thought men made a
mistake by clothing their shoulders too warmly.
There were no bones in the " carry ALL" but
ladies could put splint up the front if they
liked. They should wear q broad strap over
the shoulder, and then divide it, making them
go "a TO bring one portion further forward. II
they must wear COTsets, let them have similar
straps. She felt in this matter like the Irish
priest, who, having delivered a long lecture on
temperance to his flock, on finishing said -
- But if We will drink, ye rascas. ye may as we'll
give your fps to Barney Gov le.''
She then showed suspenders which formed a
solid support for the dress skirt. This was
formed of two Vide bands in tue back aud over
the shoulder, where they each divided, and
formed four narrower ones. Two of these were
crossed in front, while the others came straight
down. These left the bust free, while the
broad band passed over the shoulder above the
point, leaving the shoulder joint free. The sup
port must be there, and the band broad Sd As to
distribute the weight. She asked the audience
II they we're mechanics enough to understand
the value of distribution of weight, and that a
weight which would be insuppOrtable to one
inch would be easily supported on three.
She next showed a garment she was sure
would shock the ladies, bat II did away with a
multiplicity OF skirts, or any except the dress
skirt. These were
WATERPROOF DRAWERS,
with Eaiter bottoms 70 cover the shoes. They
were lined with Canton flannel and faced at the
bottom with waterproof high ensugh to make
the m ImPerViOUs TO wet. Similar articles were
worn by all the western farmers wives when
they went ont in the winter. They might be
made Of silk, and be ornamental as we'll "a
useful. They did away with the necessity of
the wOOllen Logging that absorbed snow and
wet, and were particularly desirable for school
teachers and children. They should be re-
placed in the house by a single skirt, but might
he worn in school without danger, Is the feet
we're always cold, and from this cause both
school children and teachers suffered.