The Osceola times., 1880-05-08
GARMENTS or MYSTERY.
A Lady's Description of the Chemiioon-
An Interesting Window.
New York ~. CincinnaLi Enquirer.

New York Cor Cincinnati Enquirer.
There is a show window ou one of the
avenues full of reform undergarments of
mysterious shapes. Various ideas in
corsets are realized, and suspenders for
skirts and stockings are numerously dis
ulayed, but the general tendency o. the
reforms there illustrated is toward COM
bining two articles in one. An under
shiIt and a corset cover become a single
garment. and so 10 nightgOwn and a
nightcap The most striking thing in
the window il of white muslin, and has
both arms and legs. Ii is, to speak with
out equiyocation, chemise as far down
as the waist, and drawers below that di-
yiding line. The utility of it is not very
apparent, though the dealer declares that
il saves time and trouble, and Is more
comfortable. Ii certainly is rather L
startling object, as 1t hangs at full length
and breadth in the window; yet | mn
agine that it is mysterious to most of the
men who throw sly glances at it as they
pass by. Why wOmen's underwear
should be a delicate subject is to me, a
woman. most wonderful; but so it is.
Even the two girls who were Aoking at
some reform goods as | entered the
store seemed dcsirOus of escaping. But
there was strong hammered woman
there who did not shrink; and observed
that she bought several OF the curious
combinations, while the comely girls
went out without making purcha.e. /
talked with the old one for the sake of
finding out her motive for decreasing
the number and increasing the compre-
hensiyeness OF her undercarments, and
was astonished when heard ii.
"Tisn't so much that they're handler
10 get on and off," she said, though
that's something; but the fact is that my
washerwoman charges by the dozen. A
shirt is one piece and pair of drawers
is another, which makes two; but shirts
and drawers in one count but one.
These washerwomen, bless you, are so
grasping."
The garment to which she referred is
called chemiloon. | looked carelessly
at the various styles, for had no inten-
ton of buying any, and the salesgirl
[ grew persuasive.
"IOu can hardly appreciate how be
/ coming they are" she said, in reply 10
my remark as to their appearance, "un-
I lte. you stc Aitiu NblH' ltd't sAt \
= this way and see a model"
She conducted me into a rear apart
ment-a sort of dressing room for the
| trying on of garInents-and called out
"Lizziel Lizzie!" In response hand.
some young woman came in. Removing
loose wrapper, she hnconcernedly dis
| played several of the establishments de.
| vices.
"The lady wishes to see the chemi.
| LOOM" the salesgirl said.
The young woman DOTTED her skirts oi
novel shapes and stoo revealed in the
/ chemilOon There was plenty Of sim.
| plicity and nothing very interesting
about the garment. Bathing dresses for
| children are sometimes cut in about the
same fashion. Any ordinarily ingenious
| lady could make it without patterl.
The model was well nigh faultless in
| figure, and 80, of course, looked well in
| it, The cloth was fine bleached muslin;
| the neck was made moderately low and
/ edged with dainty lace; the sleeves were
| short, showing the wearer's shapely
arms nearly to the shoulder; the waist
was half fitting, and there was an inset
bosom of embroidery; the legs reached
/ to Just below the knees. In putting Oh
| the chemilOon 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.