, 1877-01-07

] poAteness, such words as "corruption,n hnlg.
GER" "bnlidozed,;''' have become familiar Ian.
Christian household.
Willtarn,'' said i, as rang for more baked
potatoes ono morning, *f never allowed myseIf
to read the Beecher scaudal-much IS wanted
didn't.n
One day, when Louisiana went for Hayes,
| father promised me new parlor carpet, II the
question isn't settled soon, / think can easily
get the house refurnished, aud perhaps have
new China set and silver dessert service. 1
am SO sorry the Centennial is closed, for know
could just IS well spend another fortnight in
| Philadelphia, and do believe could have that
lovely pink coral set wanted so badly.
don't understand politics, but am SO glad
and do feel sure, il any one makes good reso-
luttons, and tries to be economical, and really
means to be good wife and daughter, way
will open out OF difficulties.
AloDEsTY OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
A writer in Appletons' Journal says: stThe
! prudery Of American women was for many
years the standing jest Of European wits. It
was American society that excluded the word
1eg' from polite circles, anlit was Yankee
splnstcr who hid the limbs OF her piano in
panta1ets. But recently our offending has gone
quite to the other extreme. Some English
critics who visited us last summer we're very
/ much shocked at the immodest practices at our
seaside watering places. One Of these sensitive
gentlemen attempts to imagine the sensation
that would be produced at Brighton *by party
Of ladies aud gentlemen disappearing for few
minutes into huts lining the esplanade, and then
emerging in bathing-suits to take all together
dip In the sea- Another censor writing to IN
English journal, assures his readers that on
these occasions the bathing costumes of both
sexes are exceedingly tree and primitive The
ladies' wear what is called high pctticoat,' and
another garment is disposed Of as sindesc1iba-
b!c.' The simplicity OF this costume Is such, we
are assured, that when lady s1eaves the water
and comes dripping across tho promenade, an
Englislman out Of his country for the first
time who happened to meet her on the spot
would certainly open his eyes very wide or shut
them very close. Then the effect we arc
further told, sof the scanty bathing-dress is
heightened BY the elaborate toilets Of the ladies,
the male bathers, whose costume is very similar
to that OF the sisterhood except that it Is rather
shorter at the extremities, and includes head
piece something between bonnet and jockey
cap.' This alarming, this intensely improper,
this dissolute picture was very horrtfYing to our
fastidious critic, and indicated to his mind free
dom OF manners from which the worst conse-
qucnces are to be inferred. There is consola-
tion for us, however, In the fact that continent
III peoples are not less reserved on the beach
than We arc, and that q stay-at-home English
critic is OF opinion that while on the Continent
and in America the ladies are less reserved than
in England, tho gentlemen are more SO in their
ideas OF proprlcty In bathtny.' It seems that
at English seaside places the male population
till lately everywhere, and still in some less
fashionable resoIts), could disrort themselves in
utter nudity among tho breakers not 100 yards |
from throng Of morning Ioungers on beach,
and from force Of custom no scandal was sup
posed to exist at the exhibition
tt1n tr1ltb. nflr EtlrOnpan censnrE sh0n1d hare
understood how much there lies in this same |
tforce Of customs' The woman who violates |
usage in these particulars is unnodest, and not |
she who conforms to established custom, because
defiance Of convention is an indication that the |
mind has prurientlr dwelt upon the subject, while
adherence to sanctioned practices is the natural |
aud imreaaoning instinct OF the mind. An entire /
ly modest woman goes to an evening ball with !
her dress worn decollete, and would not for the |
world show her ankles. OF course, as strictly |
logical fact, it would seem rs II the display Of /
the bust we're much more reprehcns5ble than the |
ness or Inconsistencies Of the act that deter
mines its modesty. The fashion OF the early
part Of the century for ladies' was q dress short
and scant in the skirt, SO that the ankles we're
revealed, and the contour Of the form shown in |
every motion. That would be q singularly i'm |
modest woman who should appear to-day at an 7
evening party In dress Of this character; but, |
il the fashion were revived, and in bevy OF q
dozen young women there we're one Who refused |
to adopt the style on account of modest
which OF the group had thought most of the
had associated with the garment
questionable ideas! This principle being true,
will not cur dear English friends permit us to
vary our seaside customs from theirs without
incurring their moral displeasure: without ne
cessitating belief that we have taken our place
among the dissolute peoples Of the wor1dz"