The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1877-03-30
rElGS or THE DEcoLAErrE.

II there was ever time in the annals
of female attire when modesty was en-
tirely disregarded, that time is when
belle of the period dresses for an evening
entertainment or an actress for ''swell'
mart. The waist Is cut square in the
neck. back and front, and very low, es-
peciaily behind, the opening of the dress
extending almost down to the waist.
There are no sleeves, only a shoulder
strap, which makes woman look all
arms, neck and bust-a terrible expanse
LOT bare flesh, which is softened only by
Ia necklace. or a black velvet ribbon with
Ia locket attached. The waist is cut
be shape, but plain and tight to the
md comes down to the hipbOne;
Inc skirt begins, but there is not a
fold, nor should there be even = wrinkle
in front or at the side; at the back
breadth one or two immense box plaits
are set in TO give the requisite putting
and the sweep of the train. The looping
or puff owing to the extreme length of
the body-for il terminates at the end
of the backbone-must of necessity be
very low down.
Most of the dresses are without over
skirt, sash, flounce or trimming of any
kind some OF the skirts have a full
tounce about foot deep at the bottom
of the dress, in side of which is tackled
fine white muslin founce, trimmed with
lace 10 represent petticoat, and this is
said to he positively all the undercloth-
ing that an actress or a dluie de sociefe
wears in full dress. such dress as this,
Of handsome, thick creaIn-colored silk, Is
worn by Miss Katherine Rogers as the
princess in "The Danicheffs.' 1t GER
tainly looks statesque when she is stand
ing up, but it Is laughable to see her sit
down. Her tie-back and scantiness of
material restrain free movement, and so
she eases herself down gingerly; she can
cannot sit down quickly and freely, but
insiDuates herself into seat, always
with her face to the audience.
Fortunately she plays part the chief
Characteristic of which Is dignity, which
IS supposed to consist in slowness of
action and holding the head we'll up
one trembes to think what would hap
pen if some OF the strings should snap, or
some one would step on the skirt, tearing
it away from the body. In such an
event, if report be true, Eve herself
would be rivaled in simplicity and
/ paucity Of apparel--because undercloth-
/ ing, for an ultra fashionable lady, i OBJ
solete. All the actresses dress the same,
and it reveals, alas! in many cases, less
| beauty of form than the sex Is generally
cIedited with. IL shows the bad effects
| of tight lscing, which Is not so observable
in ample drapery, which effect is prin-
cipally very small waist at the expense
of good deal of corporation. 1t also
exposes queer limbs, in some instances;
! big knees. that stick out, or knock in,
and fearful feet, that find no concealing
| folds, and hips--dear. dear What a
/ strange assortment of these-sOme too
! broad, some too narrow, some too high,
and some non st. Inshort, the statesque
style requires the form of young Venus
all others it tries sadly. No bustles
are won--they have gone out entirely,
and if any overskirt or drapery is worn
it must be draped low down, only little
above the hem of the dress.
Even tor street wear the statesque is
affected; the waists are cut into several
seams, which is becoming TO stout
form, and There are fat ladies in exis-
tence, the present lath-hke fashion to
the contrary notwithstanding.