River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-03-02
SENSIBLE YOUNG LADIES.


SENSIBLE YOUNG LADIES.
Sir Edward Thornton and family, says
a correspondent Of The Cincinnati ga.
zetto, set a most excellant example, in
the matter of dress, TO Washington So
ciety, and one that Americas generally
might heed TO advantage.
This declaration is called out by an in.
oident which occurred on the avenue a
few bright days ago, when all of the
fashionable life here that could get out
was ON the promenade. The matinee
at the principal theatre was Just pouring
out its crowd, made up largely of young
ladies dressed in all the agonies Of the
styles, to swell the tide, when the Eng
lish minister and two daughters appeared
upon crossing which led diagonally
along the line OF 500 bedecked American
women.
As il by common impulse the whole
crowd caught the sight, and all caught
themselves taking good look at once.
Sir Edward Thornton is known TO all in
Washington. His is a striking figure,
and he walks and rides so often that
every one recognizes him. IL was not
his appearance, however, that drew such
sudden attention from this crowd Of silks,
laces, feathers and jewelry, but the dress
Of the two daughters walking one on each
side of him. There was the titled min.
lister Of one Of the greatest nations Of the
earth, living here IN the largest mansion
OF the city, aud giving now and then such
entertainer as eclipse all others for
their elegance. His establishment is
a shrine where all fashion which can OBJ
tain admission worships. But for all
this here were Sir Edward and his
daughters out for walk, and by chance
passing in reyi before hundreds of
American women trlcked out in all that
the lashion-plates prescribe; and being
out for walk, these high.born young
ladies were setting their American cous.
ms a lesson which should have put every
one Of them to blush. The English ladies
had on heavy boots TO begin with, so
heavy that it was entirely unnecessary to
dodge around the damp spots in the ay-
enue crossing. Next, their arms we're
free, and not engaged in holding up their
training dresses in which American fe-
male idiots will persist in sweeping
through the filth Of the streets. Their
skirts not only did not touch, but they
were not so low that every step spattcred
them with concentrated aastiness. The
skirts were plain and Of plain material,
There was also an absence Of the intri-
cate humping-up, reehng, pulling-back,
and hunching.out which distinguish those
whom Americans adore But instead Of
all this each wore a plain, comfortable,
and decent walking skirt. Each had on
a substantial cloak, but, horror upon
horrors, they were cut in the style of two
| winters ago. The chances are that the
cut was that OF three seasons since Al
any rate, that was the prevailing opinion
/ in one group Of Americans that discussed
the question with that eagerness which
its importance demanded.
| "The horrld things" said one as she
stepped into a puddle and splashed her
white stockings and the whole side of a
white lace skirt she displayed as she waD
trying to hold it out Of the mud
''the horrid things, those cloaks and
slirta ave four seasons old, M I'm alive
AHu W. Ahe ihNhtl NttN nhNt ENh Nbt
"Abominable !" gasped another, in al
under tone, as her own trail of silk sweep
off the curb and into the gutter, where i
soaked a moment, MS she completed hel
| observation and remark, "Abominable
What can the queen be thinking about
if she knows what guys her immediate
representatives make of themselves in the
capitol Of America 2"
And so tine minister and his daug
all pictures Of health and vigorous life,
moved along the front of the crowd quite
unconscious of the universal attention
they were exciting or Of the valuable
lesson they were giving those who choose
to learn it. Bot few of those who did
lay the lesson to heart will dare to prac.
tice it, and probably not one who moves
in the fashionable life Of Washington will
have the courage to initiate the good ex-
ample Of those English ladies Of rank
For IL they did, you see, the young gentie-
men who give the Germans-ge gentlemen
who would at any time exchange
their own number seven heads for nun.
Der four feet would never be seen with
them on the street, or at the opera, and
would never invite them to those "diyine
dances. "And then what would life
be r.