The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1877-09-21
Dressing SensihIY.

Thackeray thought men had made a
great stride in more senses than one
when they consented to hide little feet
and big feet Unfortunately in big, ugly
brogans of boots and there is no doubt
that it was a larger step toward real
emancipation than was obtained by the
celebrated declaration of independence
and equality which are foreign to the
very nature of things, and never can
exist, though all the papers in the world
was explored to assert them and there
is more sturdy independence about a
pair of great, ugly boots than in cart
load Of documents. English girls and
women are strongly ridiculed by Ameri.
can women abroad for their big feet and
ugly shoes, but | think it is more a
question of size Of shoes than of feet, but
they choose their shoes, as they do their
gloves, a size too small, and step---for
they break down in a walk-as if
cramped An English girl, on the CON
trary, is perfectly oblivieus of her feet.
They do not look so dainty, it must be
confessed, on the promenade, as those of
all American girls; but then she evil
IDENTIFY does not take them out for
exhibition on the street. she takes them
out for use; and, uncovered, | have
suspicion that they would be whittier.
softer, and smoother than those of most
American girls, which are nearly always
disfgured by Germs, bunions, or over
grown joints.
Shall we ever dare, | wonder, Il wear
useful shoes like men, without reference
to their looks? / think l should be bet
ter pleased to see them doing that
universally and as matter of course
than polling a vote, for in it would be
more of future health, happiness, and
help for them. Not that | want women
to cease to be beautiful. but ones ideas
change about beauty. Take men on the
average, and they are haDdsOmer as men
than women are as women. They have
lost nothing by throwing aside gewgaws
and tight boots, but they have gained
much. The other day / saw the pictures
OF man and woman taken twenty-five
years apart, at the time they were mar
Tied and on their silverwedding day.
Her face was sweet, intelligent, and hon
est; his immature nd raw. But what
change in twenty-five years His,
noble, much handsOmer than when he
We young, full of the evidences of
growth and opportunity; hers, weak,
faded, wanting outline, color vitality,
nothing apparently behind it, evidently
a cared-fo woman, whose life had
spent itself in little efforts to do and be
exactly like her neighbors. Useful
boots, when she was young, would have
given hers exercise, strength, freedom,
and changed the whole character OF her
physiogomy, besides imparting better
life to her children. 1t is comfort to
see how quickly American girls get the
nonsense taken out of them when they 60 |
abroad for purpose, to work and study, |
for example, with only a little money, |
and a great desire to make the most of
their chances. In the British museum, |
in London, aud the museum of the |
Louvre, or palace of the Luxembourg, in |
Paris, they may be seen industriously |
copying, in short. dark skirts, blouse !
belte0 in round the waist, dark felt hat, |
and hair cut short, no gloves, and shoes !
of a kind that will not permit them to (
walk or stand on the hard, bare stone |
floors
American girls at home are also begin
ming to learn that there is something in
the world besides dress. One, school,
teacher, wrote letter recently, asking
for design by which she could make up
dresses which would not look eccentric,
but which would be useful, convenient
and available for two or three years, or
until the goods were worn out. She said
she was determined to dress hereafter
without reference 10 fashion, make her
garments when il was convenient that
IS during the months OF vacation-and
her dresses so they should De good Tor