The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-08-21

Involves inc cnOpplngs OF the rich stuff into
bits. the whole work requiring great OUTLAY
of time on thepart of the seamstress, and the
result being the destruction of the material
for any except present use. whereas in the old
days gown SO expensive and 30 elegant
could have been brought out year after year
and perhaps handed down to another eener-
alton.
The English protestant against the reckle-s
tyranny Of fasoion and corruption Of the art of
dress sees no other way of escaping from the
thraldom and curing the evil than that of foH
lowing the simple principles of the dress as
established by the Greeks, and which even
now govern the costumes Of the Oriental peo-
PIES "The dress of the Indian ayah, in
which scarf eight yards in length is made
to form, without pin or thread, a garment in
comparably graceful and convenient, and
that of all ranks in ancient Hellas, offer ex-
IRENE or typical examples of this employ
mcnt of easy means to admirable and varied
ends" She then proceeds to indicate the
character of the dress with VIII CHI she would
wage war against the modern fashion auto
Gratis. The garments should be adapted to
the lines OF the human frame, the weight
falling where it is least oppressive, and every
organ and muscle being allowed it's free de.
velopment, SO that the advantage of the wear
er would be first subseryed. They should be
put together according to the established rule,
and SO as to receive character and not impose
on the person. They should be easy to wash
| where the material admitted of such purifica.
ton, and should not occupy an undue space
| In wearing, keeping OR carrying about.
Finally, the dress SHOULD be removed from
vulgar comparison by association with some
great and enduring monument of the past,
| associations whose revived presence would
be felt as an impulse or higher life through
out the whole sphere OF culture.''
Such system Of dress was actually in use
by the better class of Britons for 400 years. It
was given them by the Romans. and, with but
slight alteration, was the dress of ancient
| Greece. It consisted of the tunic or chytop.
| fastened on the shoulders, and with a zone at
| the waist through whichgthe garment might
be drawn until the convenient length was at
| tanned, and so as to dispose of the folds in
| graceful lines. Over this tunic, which could
be made in half an hour, the Grecian women
draped shaWls or scarfs as suited their taste or
fancy. -
She contends that this dress is not only
more graceful and convenient than that at
present worn by women, but that it is also
more modest and becoming, and that with
the help of shawl, square or long, according
as it is used as cloak or a wrap, it affords
sufficient protection against the rigors of the
weather. The dress, too can be made as rich
as thepurse of the wearer will afford, and it's
simplicity and freedom adapt it thoroughly to
the necessities of working women. It is easy
to wash, easier to pack, its length can be reg
,ulated at pleasure, and its beauty is beyond
dispute.
It would not subject the wearer to invidi-
Gus remark, for the general outline and
hang of the shawls or stuffs thus arranged
makes so near an approach to that obtained
by the cutting and goring, the piecing and
llgatures OF the present mode, that an eye un-
informed of the facility of the means employ
ed would be slow to discover them for itself''
When the experiment was lately tried in
London of assembling a number Of ladies OF
all ages in the garb of "ancient Greece" the
effect obtained, though admittedly beautiful
and becoming, differed so slightly from that
to be seen in many artistic circles of the day
that the learned pundits, who had thought to
behold animated statues, were disappointed"
| Most of the ladies, declares the writer, could
have appeared in the streets without attract
ing critical notice.
Women are always conservative in social
matters, and they will not be quickly conyin
ced by even the sound arguments advanced
by this English lady. But the exactions which
fashion makes are now so heavy that they
were never more likely than at the present
day to open their ears to her.