Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-09-26
Selected MisfrlIanv,
The Vagaries of Fashion.

There is ono thing which we have
never been able to understand, and
which We believe few can possibly com
prehend or explain. 1t is the vagary
of female fashion. Who is it that invcnts
it, and has the knack to maintain it as
long as he plcascs, and starts something
fresh, is all mystery? The phcnomc-
non is by 70 means now. A hundred
and sixty years ago the old essaysts
were at loss to know how the extraya-
CANT oddities of female attire originated
and were so clcverly kept up in spite of
torrents of ridiculc. Then, as now, a
fashion bad its run of few years, and
dropping out Of use as mysteriously ~
it commenced, was followed by some
thing equally prcposterous.
In these vaGarics of fashion there
seems for the time being to be kind of
mental dcrangomcnt-perhaps more cor
rectly the prostration of intellect,
through deficiency of moral courage.
Forty years ago the lady part of man
kind fell into mania for wearing dresses
with huge shoulders blown up like bal
looms. 1t amounted to purposelcss
distortion of the person. So, everybody
said it was. But the avowal made no
difference. Sleeves must be made six
times larger than they need be- Shout
dcrs must be distorted, rendered posi-
lively ugly. It was the fashion, and
that was enough. In due time, when
the mania had run its course, the bal
looming was given up, and shoulders
shrunk TO their natural figure. When
it was all over, no one vcnturcd to ex-
plain how the frenzy had originated, or
what was its meaning. On the contrary,
as if ashamed Of the weakness, the
subject was skilfully dropped. Next in
the order of this species of feminine de-
mentia came the crinolinc vagary. A
pctticoat Of horsc-hair and whalcbonc
was employed to distend the outer dress
far beyond the person. 1t was re-
sumption Of hoops, with the difference
that while hoops expanded sidowisc, the
crinoline spread out all around. Every
woman had the shape of a handbcll-
wide at the lover edge and small above.
Graccfulncss was out Of the question.
If the object was to produce monstrosi-
ty, it was emincntly successful. The
crinoline mania had fair run of several
years, and given up, there occurred the
fresh surprise how it ever had received
the slightest encouragement.
Crinolincs of every variety having
been rolinquisbed, feminine society is
sorely in want OF new eccentricty.
1t would be against all rule not to appear
ridiculous. SO wits are at work in the
grand arcana Of fashion. The fat goes
forth from somewhere that, as a super
lative novelty, dresses are TO be worn
tight TO the person from top to toe. In
stead of paddings and balloonings, there
is to be squeezing 50 tightly as to be
hardly abo TO breathe. 70 impede
walking, and if possible to prevent sit
ting, the legs are 10 be held back with
strings. by way Of compensation for
the lightning up, the dress is 10 be 80
long as TO trail three or four feet on the |
ground Such may be called the pres
ent fashionable regime, maintained. as
usual with tho force Of memorable law.
Woe be to the fine lady who docs not |
make herself AZ lank as a skinned rab- |
bit, aud who fails 10 the tuckings and 4
tyings 10 restrain locomotion What |
her natural shape may be is nothing % |
the point. She may not DO able IN 60 I
up or down stairs. except by one foot /
at a time, like child learning to walk, |
but that is Of no consequence. Fashion
demands that she shall appear MANNED
in the lower limbs. The law is to be
oboycd. and there's an end Of it.-Har-
psr's Weekly.