National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-09
Natiuual gepablifatr.
AND HEALTHY WoAEH.
By ELIZABETH DUDLEY.

For several months past ladies have been prom.
Used reform in dress-a return to untrimmed
skirts, short enough to swing clear OF the ground
In walking, and plain enough to be light and easy
to carry. Our ladies walk the streets attired in
the same heavily trimmed and hoped and pulled
walking suits that came in fashion i've years since;
and though few plain-skirted redngotes, loose
fitting and belted round at the waist, are seen,
these comfortable garments have as yet met with
little favor. ...--.-
The Psychologist longs for . change, being aware
how injurious the present mode Of dress is to our
delicate women; and any sensible man or woman
VINO examines the variety Of skirts now worn BY .
fashionable lady Is amazed at their number and
weight. For hoopskirts have long been discarded
by ultra-fashionables, and yet fashion REQUIRES
that the form shall not appear too thin. So first,
o short, thick flannel underskirt is worn over the
hips, with broad hem and two tucks to make It
set out; then Q muslin underskirt, with several
tucks, often stifiy SEARCHED; then mohair under
skirt nounced all round and with six or seven
hounces on the back breadths, to make the dress
set out at the back. A hustle or panier is next
put on, for our fashionable young lady cannot
make her dress sufficiently boufant at the back
unless she wears . tournure. Over this is placed
muslin skirt, hounced, pulled, tucked and en-
oroidered; and on full-dress occasions another
muslin skirt, similarly made, but much heavier,
oeing long and trained, and consequently supply
ing more room Tor hounces. And then comes tho
dress-skirt, covered up the front breadth with
stde-plaiting and bands, or quillings and pufings
or piping+and round the other breadtbs with
nounces and trimmings Of every Imaginable de-
scription.
What load for one delicate woman IN c.rrv
And what an unnecessary load! Suppose that.
instead Of all these heavy underskirts she were
to dress her body and limbs evenly and warmly
In flannel, and wear one flannel underskirt, sufi-
GENTLY long, with smsll-sized, well-made hoop
skirt next it; over that plain skirt Of gray fan
mel or white muslin; then the dress-skirt, of walk
ing length, trimmed or not according to the fancy
OF the wearer and her bodily strength-hoW much
more comfortable she would Immediately feel
How rapidly her health would improve
Then she would be able to walk, and when her
oiood had become oxygeniEed by this hygienic
exercise, her complexion would improve daily
her eyes and hair brighten, her spirits grow more
VlVacious, her temper more equable and under
control-she would in every way constantly de-
Velop into fascinating woman.
1iear the reader hardly believes that the wear
ing OF noop-sktrts, in place Of other and heavier
skirts, Will effect all this, but any doubter can
try 1t.
know lady who, ten years ago, was 50 thin
and sallow skinned that all her friends thought
her to be In ill-hesth; her lips were blush whites
getting wrtnkled; her hair rapidly turning gray
In every respect she looked and felt prematurely
old. On learning her habits Of life, advised her
to walk. But at that time she felt uearied out
on walking half mile. I recommended change
OF dress, and she followed my advice.
Clothing herself in 9 warm suit Of flannel, and
discardtng her heavily-trimmed clothing for a
light well-made hoop-skirt with an almost plain
dressskirt above 1t, she began to walk half mile
after breakfast and the same distance before sup
per every day. At the end Of q week she had In
creased the distance to q mile each time twenty
city blocks made mile,) and in q few weeks to
two miles. From that time her health and appear
ance rapidly improved, her youthful energy re-
turned, she took q new lease Of life.
Now she is able to walk ten miles or more every
day, and does generally walk six niles, excepting
in very bad weather. Her skin is soft, fine and
free from wrinkles, her complexion remarkably
clear and fair, with rosy lips and, on exercising
out Of doors, q delicate bloom In her cheeks. Her
hair is bright, pretty brown, without q gray
hair to be seem Indeed, her friends all wonder at
her youthful appearance and youthful enjoyment
fife. She declares that hoor-skrts have effected
the change by enabling her to walk and that by
their aid she means to remain young till the age
Of ninety!