Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1877-09-14
Women and TheI Dress.
- an-AL-nL.L

AAN AANhlVNA1hal
Last year We remarked upon The ex-
plot If young lady who had crossed
Niagara on a ti1ht rope. Now we are
informed that Miss Won Hillern has
recently completed a walking under
taking what few men could execute.
These cases are Of course extraordinary.
Women In general do not attempt feats
of physical strength, nerve and endur-
ance. Still there is more Of such CO.
pacity in the female world than aver
age writers recognize. Few men be-
come famous as theatrical dancers-a
business that requires great endurance.
But there have been many women
whose dancing has given them fame
and fortune. Even In the social pers
Torrance called dancing 1t is 0 rule OF
parties that one woman will furnish
three average man With all the exer'
else they wish.
If the exceptional woman does some
times excel the exceptional man In q
game of strength and endurance, 1t
must be true that our sisters have a
good deal more physical stamina than
they are usually credited with. II Is
probably absurd 10 assume that girls
Inherit all the weakness Of their mothers
and none Of the muscular force Of their
fathers-that one sex alone falls heir
10 the ancestral infrmities.
We have before remarked upon the
amount OF female vigor visible in the
streets Of New York, aud further
observation confirms US in thejudgment
then expressed, that American women
are more vigorous than they are usually
considered 10 be. 1t IL fair 10 coDject.
ure, therefore, that our general social
habits are far less damaging 10 ieme'
nine health than has been supposed. 1t il
not on grounds Of physical detrimenI
that we should attack femenine fash
ions. In general, that pOiat OF view Il
only good for those who have already
suffered. The sound girls will follow
the fashions until the fashions inllcI
wounds. Aud, somehow, the women
OF the modern world manage 10 &C
through q fearful amount OF exhaust
ing fashion worship. There are, how
ever, other and better grounds o foppo'
sition TO fashion. For instance, how
are the women who read Harper
Bazaar to carr their living In commo
occupation Gas the Bazaar thinks they
CAM while wearing the clothes describ'
cd in the fashion plates Of that periodi
cal? In other words, practical women
have q great stake in the war agains
encumbering, e~utangling and murder
ing fashions.
There IL, too the ground Of taste. A
procession Of women nowadays re
minds one Of the sheep that como homI
bringing their tails behind them. Il
, ludicrous bad taste, nothing can muc
a exceed these long dresses gathered int
the hand OF the wearer so as TO disclos
boots, stockings and skirts, and pullin
: all the lower portion OF the dress OF
c of shape. 1t Is amazing that wome
= allow themselves 10 be made ridiculoU
In masculine eyes by 80 absurd an
senseless a custom as the one TO whic
g we unwilliugly refer. "Our gorge risG
at it,"
But Cur present purpose 10 10 suggei
. 10 reformers that bad fashions must b
attacked on grounds of taste and thei
practical damage. They will pever b
broken up by attempts to prove thi
they were running the vitality Of GU
G couutrywomen. Our sisters hav
G altogether TOO much vital force TO b
Q crushed under their harness, howevC
r burdensome this harness may b