New-York tribune., 1875-09-27
"THE FASHIONSv IN NEWSPAPERS.

"THE FASHIONS IN NEWSPAPERS
COMMENTS OF EDITORIAL wRITERs-IHE FASHION
ARTICLE-CONsIDERATIONS OF HEALTH BY
WOMEN.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: There are many things that are spoken
Of "a past finding out" and among them am begin
ming to class the ways of newspapers. Not that they
care Except when subscribers fall off, or that you can
find any fault with them such as they choose to
print and circulate STILL to the common mind they are
mysterious.
Not to deal too generally, let me take one point
by way Of illustration. paper let it be TIE TRIBUNE
or what you will, Is very fair and right-mnded. You
feel much faith in It, 1t comes out with an article and
perhaps this is supplemented by an editorial, on
"Fashion," say 1t is clear strong, convincing. Poor
Fashion, whoever she may be or wherever she may
dwell must feel crushed, annihlated, II she
only heard it. Fashions Chere they are pluraD
arc absurd, ridiculous, burdensome extravagant; ;
women are fools to submit TO the tyranny
(men neyer) sometimes not only do we have
all this inyectiye but shown more excellent way
and no doubt many are converted
But you turn over leaf and there possibly in the
next paper you find a column Of 1.-The Latest
Fashions" and there is learned discourse upon pufs
and frs and skirts, and bias, and fold and polonase
and the latest the most stylish material FORMS coors
the favorite, above all the ne,cesk
Then in another place or another paper is letter de-
scrbng and styles at some place OF resort gor
geous scenes enough turn the heads OF any not sea-
soned and case hardened Again. descriptions Of fashion
plates and fashOn-boOks and magazlnes-so many per-
sons employed $50 read not long ago)-constantly
employed in inrenting fashions, as If, since they
get their living by 1t, this was most
praiscworhy and useful occupation. And then follows
I'm its appropriate place. another homy against fashion
and eXtravagancc. Now, one would faln ASK wnat 10
right and what Is wrongf and what are we to dol We
must spend substance. We might, Ike the
and
(and dseases) through many generations aud spend
our money burning paper and incense In josshouses
or we might to sackc0th and ashes except that
they are not ceany nor becoming or to the Quaker
costume which only suits some styles What are we to
dof 1t is great puzzle, and even our best beloved
paper, as we see is no guide. II blows hot
and blows cold almost in breath, and here
we are left painting: There Is no question
that many OF fashions arc harmful. The
tightly skewed waists do untold mischef the heavy
loaded skirts hanging upon the back are equal TO any
burden and more harmful s topping nat Leaves tSst nee.
the tight boots and high heels ipure the feet and make
walking torture the trailing skirts are untidy, not TO
saw filthy Why can't make dstinctionsf
Because the graceful dress for drawingroom sweeps
the floor every maid and village girl trail her dino
| prints through wet and mire, and dtlstt .
Some of us have seen voissitudes There are old
fashion plates that tell Of tho time when dresses were
worn 80 short that men called them indecent, ana
| said women wanted to show Q pretty foot and
| ankle There arc those Of the fitting hocpa than
which nothing could be more ungraceul, inconvenien
and often indccorous there are those OF period further