The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1874-07-16
Calico.

! used to see it more frequently before
the war, and we thought it not only be-
coming to the fair sex, but, when worn
with grace by intelligent women, we
thought both it and them really beauti-
tiful. At cost of from fifteen to thirty
cents yard, pretty dress may be had,
quite good enough to work in, to wear
while travelling and visiting, or-think
the remark not profane-even to wor-
ship God in.
Perhaps we do not fully realize the OBJ
jects of female attire. If the object be
to clothe the lady for health and COM
fort, then we should study the subject
with view to health and comfort But
if it be for the display of great quantities
of "dry goods, to advertise the --latest
fashions, that is quite another thing,
to the purpose. Or, if the object be to
display the human form, to crimp, cramp
and cruelty it; to give it a wasp-like
shape with a dromedary appurtenance,
and, at the same time, to give the poor
victim donkey load to carry, then all
right-you now have it.
When the sewing-machine was first
introduced, it was claimed to be bless
ing which would emancipate woman
from endless slavery and give her time
for a higher education, numerous accom-
|
! her to greater usefulness, better compan-
ionship and greater happiness. But
what are the facts in the case2 Is she
emancipated Havesany of the shackles
or bands which bound her been taken
off? Is she more free from fashionable
folly? Does she give more time to the
study of science, useful literature, phil
osophy art, or the economical industries?
! What are the facts Compared with
the condition of things before the advent
of sewing gmachines, how is it now? A
moderately fashionable young lady,
almost wholly dependent on hard
working young merchant for support
informed US casually that there was, on
the summer dress the then wore, one
hundred yards of hemming, all done by
hand OF course, the palmer parts of
the sewing was done on the machine;
but why all this work. on single gar
ment2 Let US look into the mysteries
of modern dressmaking, and see what
Acknowledgement young lady has on,
when ready ito go out for a ride or a
walk. f
First-She has on-we will not name
all the undergarments, we could not if
we WOULD and even these usually have
any quantity of useless embroidery,
which costs valuable time and labor
then there is the corset with bones, eye
lets, strings for lacing, and this, too,
must be embroidered and otherways or
namented by hand needlework Then
come the skirts, or petticoats, and they
must have Outings" frills, embroidery,
and be "showy," if not cloud" Then
comes the dress with its endless. trim
mings, frills, founces, tucks, puffs, bows,
sashes, fringes, imitation leaves and
shell-work, pockets, big buttons,-for
show-and so forth! Then come the
neck trimmings, consisting of ties,
beads, ruffies or collars chains with PEN
! dants, necklaces, tassels and other
charms not to mention the artificial
pads worn in front and rear,-especially
by those whomnature has not favored.
! Then comes the wonderful head-gear,
and this, as seen pow-a-days, is truly
"horrible!" Can we describe it? No,
we give it up, and turn away with loath-
ing. But duty compels, and as we
would muster courage to perform a sur
! gical operation, so we must look into
and expose this untidy-looking mop of
dead hair. jute, rope or wampum. 'What
is it?' "That depends" In one case it
will be a wad of lively hair from a dead
pauper, perhaps. Look at it through
microscope or magnifying-g glass, and
then-run Or, it may be a lot of cheap
rubbish, half hair and half jute or hemp,
or dried sea-weed, hay, straw or grass.
Anything to make up pile, and make
the foolish little head look big, smell
bad, and give the wearer a headache,
and the beholder heartache-with pity
and contempt Oh, it is sickening 1t
is disgustingl We are not surprised
| that there are so many women who can
not sleep well, and, consequently, be-
come insane. 1t would be so with men,
were they driven to such folly by foolish
fashion. Ladies, ladies, don't be fools
nor slaves, but be sensible women
We must also call attention to those
metallic bracelets-something like hand
cuffs worn by criminals-and those
leather straps or belts drawn tightly
around their bodies, and fastened with
great metallic buckles, and hung with
great, awkward chains. What are they
for? Can it be to keep them from falling
to pieces2 Would not the old fashioned
hooks and eyes, or pretty little buttons
answer the same purpose, and be less IN
furious?
Then the earrings, fnger-rings
not rings in their noses Savages wear
them there. :.
Then the shoes-and here we record.
with real satisfaction, the fact that even
fashion has of late adopted more com
Portable shoe than that worn for the past
few years. The heel is not so high, and
| the shoe is wider across the bottom, so
that we may reasonably hope their will be
less stumbling, less falling down stairs,
and less broken knees, necks and backs
Many deaths have been caused by high
heeled shoes? Any number of crooked
shins will be found among young women
and growing girls, because foolish mann
mas permitted them to wear the miser-
able things. Woman, crippled in her
feet, hobbled, rather than walked had
corns and bunions, and became an in
valid or a cripple for hfe In view of all
these impediments, is it surprising that
woman is to-day chronic invalid2 If
she have no broken bones she is distorted