The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-09-04
90 9reeSp MaforGmsrs
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y The Dress MSfOrGmS -.
go ~ =
= - OF THR INrERgsT1 rIso CEEplans.
IRON the PiiiIadelphia Press LIE u.
THE Dress Reiorners are agaln ~ I,,s,; ,,n.s
conclave within the trance .ha ts;r5 onn,,al
~ mention on the lerg1e, promises 70 pc
e s more ei,tertafn ming than any Of Its pre-,
fiecessors.. lIt will donbtiess be remember
ed that this association, in order to Illustrate
not only, the equality Of The sexes, but the
proposition that social equilibrium can only.
be maintained by the continual coalation OF
both. have their apresid dent, secretary, and
treasurer composed OF two persons each, q
male and female. On the nfinbiple TINT two
heads are better than ones this novel mode
OF creating double bafreiled officials should
certainly be q success. Two sessions were
held yesterday, and were attended by over
fifteen persofis each, about one third being
OF the masculine gender. Six or eight OK
the ladies, all but one from the progressive
sands OF yineland, were attired in reform
suits OF such varied and. non descript pat
terms that II would puzzle an ethnologist TO
find their couiiterparts In the history OF MAJ
tions, civilized or barbarot The dress
worn by Mrs. TilIotsen, the leader OF the
movement, was, however. quite an improve.
ment on the garb In which, she presence .
herself at the last convention, and II. sne
would only follow the Turkish costume an
cutting her trewsers 1t might be made qute
artistic. another lady, WHO has 1iiyed her
life !" In more distant section OF the eouh.
try, appeared In a SUI which, though re-
plete with somewhat tgtaring. contrasts
and most whimsical trimmings, was,
nevertheless, wei worth studying, 1t
was made entirely Of silk and satin,
extensively embroidered in large figures.
The coat or basque had long, flowing
sleeves, far naore graceful than the pipe
stem appendages to the other feminine
Jackets, and the ample neither. garments
were ciasped with elastic at the ankles:
| This lady made a short address, in which
che told, in an off:hnnd manner; her expert
ense,. saying that TIE only rudeness ever Of.
fered her came from the feminine portion OF
humanity who Seemed to think 1t their
tbou1idell duty to sweep their skirts TO one
| side sand violently litter whenever she ap-
preached: The men, who were called 90
many hard names, were not tyEants at alf.
! She coulttaiwass0 get along with them, and
did not, believe they would oppose. the
Acknowledgement more healthfub j dress II
it. cenld be made pretty and attractive.
THIS ,Was rather a sharp s9Jg Il at Inc
other rcformers, who,sJslth CeRel &or TWO
exceptions, were basbarosisly clothed, but
| happy in their neW-found, independence,
they seemed unconscious OF it.. Ihelr suits
: consisted simply 90 dtg-cut pantaloons
and mongrei kind OF garment which ap.
peared like across between pea-iacket and
sacaue.f During the proceedings, which
| were of nm Informal character, Mrs. Tillot..
soiisspuke several times, calling particular
attention to- the fact or assumption that wo-
man could never become more elevated until
her body was relieved from the burdens i'm.
fposed hg fashion, and her brain permitted
| to act with the 'vigor OF perfect physca!
fheaish.' Several ladies, not in costume, ar
gucd that many kinds aof. work for Which
/ women are hired could only be done at 9
disadvantage, in reform dress, which would
constantly attract attention and re.
mark, and many OF them would lose
their situations by appearing in such
garb. Another lady seemed to think
that the reformers were beginning ut the
wrong end She held that the minds OF
women must first be stirred up to reallza-
ton Of their vital duties in life, and then
they would of their own accord throw aside
whatever interfered with their work. The
inspirational poet from Jersey, g MN OF
the shaggy locks. and rolling eyes," was, as
usual, among the audience, and after max
ing few rambling remarks on the sublect
of reform in general, closed his eyes, yield.
ed to the spiritual afflatus, and scared OIL
into the realms of poesy to illustrate his
ideas of what we should live for. A series
of resolutions advocating the emancipation
Of woman from the slavery Of fashion were
presented, laid on the table, and the meet
ing adjourned to reconyene this morning ut
10 O'Clock" '