The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-10-02
Wonan,s Dress a Badge Of Inferioritr.

As TO- the question Of the sexes, 1
think that woman's love OF dress is the
stamp of her iuferiOrity. IL ends the
discussion with me / can't respect
my sex as / do the other while we are
such creatures OF dress. Here a man
and his wife are projecting a journey
The man is equipped in an hour, and
his attention is free for the higher con-
siderations of the occasion, but the
woman must have week for her prep
arstions, and starts of tagged out with
shopping and dress-making and patch
ing. Go TO Wilhelmjs concert. The
gentlemen performers are not distin-
guished at all by their dress, unless IL is
by its simplicity. Wilhelmi's black
coat is buttOned across his breast up to
his collar, and his wristbands are quite
inconspicuOus. But the lady singer
comes iu dragging a pea-cock's tail un-
spread, and tattOoed from head TO foot
with cOlors and frills aud embroidery.
What is a wedding 10 a woman? It is a
brides satins and laces and Jewels. The
sentiment Of the circumstances Is all
smothered in dress. She can neither
feel solemn nor gay-she Is a spectacle Of
clothes. You bring me Scripture for
her relief: "Cau a maid forget her or
AANAAIAAe "a a "a AAE AAEA hAAANE I AUll I
say she can any more than a leopard can
change his spots; ! only say it is some
thing which stamps her inferiority. If
you quote Revelation, | will quote
nature. According To nature, man
should be appareled in brighter cOlors
aud with more fanciful decorations than
woman and should think more of his
appearance. See the peacock and COB
bier and rooster, and the male bird gen.
orally. The lion cultivates a flowing
name, but the lioness wears her hair as
meek as a Methodist. The human fe-
male seems 10 have lost her natural
prestige, and is fHin to make herself at
tractive IN meretricious ways. Imagine
man COMPRISING his legs with skirts.
let alone swathing them after the mum
my fashion Of to-day. Imagine him
spending an hour every morning in fix
ing his hair for day long torment He
will have his dress subservient 10 health
and comfort aud freedom Of breath aud
motion. You say he is in bondage tC
the change OF fashions as well as tn,
women are. But he c0utrives 10 keeI
these conditions intact. His new stylei
are not allowed to intTench on his com
fort aud health and the highest Interest,"
Of life. IL he changes the cut of hi
hair, he still keeps the sweetness ant
uncOnsciOusness Of short locks he doe
not let them grow incOnveniently long
or canker his head with a frOuzl
chignon. Ifhe changes the fashion Of hi
coat, il is almost unnoticeable, and yOl
may be sure it is at 10 sacrifice OF ease
His pautalOOns may be cut little NOR
bagging or a little more statuesgue, bu
never with trails or any impedimeut .
his natural gait. His hat is always tn
same serviceable sun-sbade, and his cal
the same protection from the weather
no matter what the details OF style
Well you say that the women dress q
please the men, and IL women are fool
ish men make them so. NV answer q
this Is, that men are as fond OF pleasing
women as women are Of pleasing men
and more so; but they succeed il
accomplishing their object without tn
mOnstrous sacrifices women make
Whether any amount OF education an,
opportunity will give women this wit
or diminish the advantage man Ia
gained, remains TO be seen.-AmericuI
Socialist