Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-04-03
6ABMENT6 OF AYSTERY.
A Lady's Description of the Chemi.
1OOn-An Interesting New York
Cincinnati Enquirer.

Cincinnati Enquirer.J
There Is show window on one OF the ave-
nueS full OF reform undergarments of myste-
TO-, shapes; Various ideas in corsets are real
are numerously displayed, but the general ten
dency Of the reforms there illustrated is toward
combining TWO articles In one. An underShirt
and SO do a nfghtgown and a nfghtcap. The
most striking thing in the window Is OF white
muslin, and has both arms and legs. 1t Is, to
speak without eQufvOcat1On, a chem1Se as far
down as the waist, and drawers below that d.
viding line. The utility OF 1t is not very appar-
emf. though the dealer declares that it saves
time and trouble and is more comfortable 1t
at full length and breadth In the window; yet
imagine that it is mysterious to most OF the
men VINO throw sly glances at 1t as they pass
by. Why women's underwear should be deli
cate subject is TO me, woman, most wonder
full; but so 1t is. Even the two girls who were
looking at some reform goods as entered the
was strong hammered woman there who did
not Shrink; and observed that she bought sew
eral OF the curious combinations, while the
cOmely girls went out without making any pur-
chase. talked with the old one for the sake of
finding out her motive for decreasing the num-
Der and increasing the cOmprehensiveness of
her undergarmepts. and was astonished when l
"T1sn't so much that they're handler to get
on and of, she said, Though that's some
thing; but the fact Is my washerwoman charges
j
drawers is another, which makes two but shirt
ana drawers IN one count but one. These
WaSnerWomen, bless you, are so grasping."
The garment to which she referred Is called
chem1loon. looked careleSSly at the various
styles, for had no intention OF buying any land
the SaleSg1rl grew persuasive.
You can hardly appreciate how bee oming
tney are" she said, In reply to my remark as to
tne1r appearance, "unleSS you see them worn.
Please step this way and see a model"
She conducted me into a rear apartment-a
sort OF dressing room for the trying on of gar
ments-and called out, "LiZzie! L1zzie!" In re-
spouse handsome young woman came in. Re-
moving loose wrapper, she unconcernedly dis
played several OF the establishments devices
The lady wishes to see the chemiloon," the
sales-girl said.
The young woman dotted her skirts Of novel
shapes, and stood revealed in the chemiloon
There was plenty of simplicity and nothing
very interesting about the garment. Bathing
dresses for children are sometimes cut in about
the same fashion. Any ordinary ingenious lady
could make 1t without a pattern. The model
was well nigh faultleSs Of figure, and SO, Of
course, looked well in 1t. The cloth was fine
bleached muslin; the neck was moderately low.
and edged with dainty lace; the sleeves were
snort, showing the wearer's Shapely arms near
~ 10 the shoulders; the waist was half fitting,
and there was an inset bosom OF embroidery:
the legs reached to just below the knees. In
putting on the chemoOn the legs are drawn on
first trousers like; then the arms are thrust
through, and finally the garment fastened BY its
row of buttons behind