Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-05-12
MRS. CLARK's COSTUME.
What n Prying Reporter Saw and
Heard ut a Council of Female Re
formers.

Heard Mt a Council of Female Re-
formers.
San Francisco Chronicle, April 2l.l
At precisely fifteen minutes to three
o'clock yesterday, an attenuated lady,
with the light of truth beaming on the
end of her nose and big bundle under
her arm, skipped up the stairway lead,
ing to Anthony's Hail. AT the top OF
the stairway she was met by the " Vice
gerent OF Christ, etc, DR. Pinkham, Il.
l.. D., f. r. s., the great moral retormer
of the age. The Vicegerent greeted the
attenuated female with holy smirk and
warm grasp of the hand, and after a
moment sweet communion ushered her
into the hall. The lady was the good
Mrs. Clark, champion of the dress re-
formers and the bundle under her arm
contained something which she wished
to show to the ladies who were expected
to be present in the hall when she en-
tered.
Having entered the room, Mrs. Clark
observed with considerable chagrin that
there were but two persons present.
One was lady in black with watery
eyes and silvery hair. The other was a
Chronicle reporter, rather awkwardly
gotten up in female attire. The latter
wore hustle, three false curls, black
alpaca dress and short jacket that dis
played his beautiful form to perfection.
He sat in fear and trembling lest his sex
should be discovered, but happily be
escaped close scrutiny. Mrs, Clark
mounted the platform, and, after waiting
patiently, though in vain, for an audi
enee, proceeded to unite her bundle.
First, however, she beckoned to DR..
Pinkham That celestiel being came
forward, aud, tripping up to the platform,
stood, with a heavenly smile, awaiting
orders. doctor" she said, stand at
the door, please, and don't let soul in
the room. 1 am going to array myself
in my reform garments. The AdJutant
of the Lord bowed, and, with blush,
departed for the entrance. There he
stood like grim sentinel. Doctor,
said the good Mrs. Clark, you will
please go outside the door. l am going
to undress."
"Ohl" said the worthy Doctor, and
straightway he went out with a disap
pointed look.
When the good Mrs. Clark spoke of
undressing. the Chronicle man thought
seriously of boiling from the room, but
as there was only one other person In
there he took good square look at the
lady and thought he could stand it.
Having seen that the Lord S lieutenant
was well outside of the door, Mrs. Clark
resumed the untying of her big bundle.
q have brought here, ladies', she
said. "a suit which l have designed as
the uniform Of the Order, and it is one
that | should like to have worn by every
member on the occasion of our parade
on the Fourth of July. In order that
YOU moy see how it looks | propose to
put it on.
With this Mrs. Clark removed her
little brown straw hat, with its brown
vail. united her little neck-ribbon and
proceeded to unbutton her dress. The
Chronicle mans breath came quick and
sharp. but he resolved to stand it, come
what might. The cold perspiration
stood out on his forehead like moisture
on toad's back; but the thick, spotted
vail he wore hid it from the gaze OF the
After some further fussing with the
front of her dress the good lady put her
hand inside and brought out something
that looked like two robins nests Joined
together with a string These she laid
down on the little desk in front of her.
Then she thrust her hands inside again
and united whole lot of white strings
and things. Then, with little shrug OF
the shoulders and quick squirm or
two, her black alpaca dress went back
and the reporter caught the dull gleam
of bare arm and something white
around it. He covered his face with his
hands and held them there. He couldn't t
stand it any longer. There was rnstling,
humping about on the platform, and
finally voice which said; There,
ladies, now l will put on the garments
of reform.
The reporter looked up and was mex.
pressibly shocked at the good Ms.
Clarks appearance. She looked like a
white gazelle. Her form entirely di.
vested Of outer garments resembled in
character that of half starved grey.