The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-24
DRLSS REFORM.
Ought Women 60 Change their stvie OF Drcs. ,
Mhnt One woman says.

Tow hs Cincinnati Fn9oiisr.
BALTIMoHr. March a. Mrs Mary C. ri.
lotson oi NV Jersey. the female dress rcform-
or. continues tO Icrnmhulutr the streets " Bal
tlmorc daily, clad I'm the attire of male hiprd
and draws crowds Of udmrng spectators. In
order to determine the object " her visit and
10 secure her Vows on dress reform your cor
rcsn9ndent cqllgd upon her this evening and
oi kindly. pleasant coHntcnanec possesses
considerable culture. and is u thorough and en-
thusiasiic worker i'm the cause she has cs-
pousod She has boon wearing n reform cos
tune Tor about twcnty-eight years and says her
nurnuQn was directed to tho matter by her own
lerhle hcnlth which rendered imperative n
cnhnge OF costume. since then she has studied
Closely the discusses Of women. and has come TO
tl' conclusion that the prevailing style of long
skirts supported ut the waist. is the chief. if not
INC PLY cyItn lSgt2r IN lng pr9ig.lion.
~ the bnsis Of not only all reforms looking to
me improvement Of womans condition, hui of
many on those that concern mon mo-. profound
~. ParadoNi"nl M It may seem, 1t has much To-
90 with temperance, more than we think. Vice
IS "a result oi physical condition. and this il cs-
pcchlly the case with temperance. dsor-
mother to certain extent. is always nm nrcom-
paniment OF this vlcc. Indeed. the most recent
prevalent medical belief that intrmrcrnnco is n
disease Woman dress keeps her in contn.
appelics. In the higher circles ~ society gen
tccl drunkenncss Is very common among
women. The more extend my Observations
the more am surprised ut lis extent OF
course this can only hnvc one oilrci unon their
children. Woman must be- healthy If her chill
dren arc 10 be. As T"nnvson SAYS. n she be-
small slight, wrctched and miserable. how shall
men grow
But the influence u men. inside from dress
reform. Is needed by women for their own sake.
A woman weighted down by heavy skirts goes
about weary in body. cross frctful. losing much
ol the Joy of life. BY the way they nre the crca-
lures Of u dcspotir and arbitrary authority
.Hlri oi ish imitation prevails among them.
Tle dress roigrmcrs sock 10 change Ibis. Thoy
believe TINT the first condition of the elevation
oi woman is a spirit If Independence. Tin re-
i.rW'f-. lh"rri ore, advocate no puric u'Ir style
OF dress, Int thov want every ono to- dress a-
~ hruN; Ih.y hnlitNc that beauty lies in Va
rietv. nud think TINT If caeh ono gives play t.
h'r own tisir ia" greatest possible diversity
u!tAlSt.. rue costume wear ! have adopted
.u lll~ principle. II suits me-. Others may NOT
llhr they nr'd not w"ar II. Il is, n- YOU 500
HSorl ni lro'k rot an. loose pants, trimmed with
N.lVci aud ribbon. II 'uu hr made Nf any com
hinaiion OF color and trimmed in he most clah-
crate manner - suit the taste. We rrformcrs
DO not war against cuiur- and trimmings
hut only against tho unhealthy -tylo ~ skirts
W Whatever style or styles " dress may be a,lopt-
ell, the present form Will pas. away
Ihis question 81 reform In dress is agilal-
ing women in all IN" countries of Europe a.
Of American women who had hoeomc Interested
in the question sent to Worth the c.lobrnted
lHrsian modesto asking him what costume
can he devised that Will hr perfectly healthy
and At the same time beautiful. He replied: |
haV' To make the same answer To- you that
have malc to Tn" women Of Europe. The eos
tune oi the lfr-lnn women j. the handsomrst
upon the face of the earth. II consists Of looSo
waist, short skirt and irowSer--not too loose. |
have made this costume lcnutifullv and hung
can do nothing moro. They must suffer until
they are willing 10 adopt IL. '