The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-07-23
Religion and Fashion.

| 1t is wonderful how much can be learn
ed in New York by the eager, unpreju-
| diced and liberal searcher for knowledge.
| In that city of cities original teachers
| abound and those who do not despise in
| novation are every day enlightened. Once
| baptism by immersion was cherished as
7 wholesome washing away of the sins, but
| it was required that the entire body, the
very top OF the head and the very tip of
| the nose should be subjected to the puri.
| fving influence. Now all this is changed.
Appearance is almost everything in this
age, even in baptism, but it is not gener-
ally known that this religious rite is often
| as much of a sham as those placed for
show over the pillows in stylish bed
room. or the undersksrt of fashionable
| costume. The secret of the simulated
| baptism, although a religious one, is not
confined to the church, for the necessary
| cooperation of the manufacturer of Ia
| dies wearing apparel makes it part and
| parcel of fashion. It is simply a matter
| of dress.
SIS my wife's baptismal suit ready?"
| questioned red-faced gentleman with
deaconish necktie, in one of our principal
| palaces of fashion. The polite head of
the manufacturing department bowed.
"Sure the garments are waterproof ?"
asked the gentleman.
| Certainly that was the agreement"
The case was growing interesting, and
my face showed desire for information.
"Can take the box home with me in
my carriage?"
The manufacturer saw pleading look
in listeners eye and respected it, so he
nodded consolingly and called to the
| head lady: ''Ts Mrs. J.'s immersion robe
ready?"
mot quite, sir" was the cheerful re-
sponse. "The bullets amt in yet and the
| cap hasn't come"
| going to be shot as we'll as drowned?"
| whispered an irreligious friend.
| When the gentleman left contented
with the promise that the article would
be sent that evening, the manufacturer
explained that the bullets were placed in
the hem of the dress to hold down the
skirt and the cap was to protect the
| crimps.
A few moments later womanly curiosi-
| ty was satisfied, for before me was placed
| one of the most dainty wardrobes one can
we'll imagine. The undergarments, Turk
| ish drawers, French chemise, underwaist
and skirts were of silken fabric, some-
thing like pongee, kind OF Japanese or
| Chinese material, i'll cream color, eXQuls.
| itely trimmed with fine torchon lace and
| knots of ribbon. The dress, of heavier
| fabric in the same shade, was a full, inde-
scribable arrangement that fell about the
figure in graceful folds of drapery, held in
| place at the waist line by wide sash of
| ribbon, foriated in passion flower pattern,
| in cream color, to be tied in large bow
! In the back. The cap was little gem of
some illuminated fabric, decorated with
| the golden CLEAN lace, that made the face
appear as if surrounded by halo.
"And now," said the suave proprietor,
| 'syou have admired the beauties of the
| wardrobe, let US test its peculiarity." To
an attendant: Bring me pitcher OF
| water and a bowl" The order being
obeyed, he placed the sash and cap into
the bowl, half full of water, and resumed
his conversation. Some ten minutes later
he took them ont, unfolded them the
insides were perfectly dry he gave them
| a shake and the water rolled off and they
were as fresh as before being placed IN the
water Then he dashed a goblet of wa
ter over the dress, shook it and no damp
ness nor stain was the result even the
lace held up, like cream mly after rain.
Everything in the OUTFIT was waterproof
the beautiful silken embroidered hose,
the shoes and gloves. About the tops of
the stockings, the bottom of the drawers,
and inside the neck of the dress and the
sleeves were inside pieces, which fitted
closely, held in place by rubber, SO no
water could get above or below. ''And
see." continued the exponent, "this cap
is worthy of consideration and praise it
is indeed, the crowning perfection of the
toilette-hear it's virtue; the modern at
tendant to the minister and assistant in
raising the convert must be educated to,
just before the head goes under water,
quietly push the crimps under the rubber
that secures the lace-edged cap, hence,
not one particle of the lady will be touch
ed by the water except her face, and
when she gets on shore, has her face
wiped, shakes herself, and the water falls
off like from ducks feathers, and has
her hair taken from under her crimp cap,
she is as dry and fresh as naiad or wa
ter nymph, with her crimps as wavy and |
artistic as when she left home" |
"Now all this" remarked lady friend, |
els splendid for feminine vanity, but the |
question arises in my mind, does it bene- |
fit the condition of the soul quite as much
as veritable old fashioned immersion, |
when, instead of being dressed in water
proof garments and carefully dipped in
tank of warm water in the church, we !
had to ride miles to the river bank,
through mud and rain, to reach the APP
pointed spot, in midwinter, clad in fan
nels or alpaca garments, and after the SER
vice We shiyering men and women were
tenderly wrapped in shawls and cloaks
ana rOQe nome III wet garments"
sit seems to me" remarked a hearer,
'that if you have related your own expe-
rience you ought to be better woman"
The matter could not have been person
al, for the lady only smiled and said !:
"While l am doubtful asto the religious
efficacy of the new method of rendering
everything water proof, it certainly must |
be admitted to be perfection as protec-
ton to those who are necessarily exposed |
to rain, for excursions and mountainous
expeditions, and it is said these costumes
will be favored for bathing purposes, but |
when the salt baths are taken to renew
strength l am of opinion that ordinary
flannel suits are far more healthful, if not |
quite so elegant as these fancy creations
that protect the body from the water that
is to benefit it."
AN OBSTINATE Court PHYsIcIAN.-On |
the return of King William, from Hol
L.