Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-11-17
Rates Of ADVERTISING.
WEEKLY CHRONICLE
The Ladies in Trousers.

Seldom has any subject outside of
the elections, excited such general in
terest as the announcement in the
Star, a few Sundays ago, that the
fashion designers of Paris had COM
trived, and the ladies of London had
determined to wear, modification of
trousers adapted to female costume.
At once we were overwhelmed with
inquiries about the particulars and
the pattern but just at that time we
were more interested in ballots than
in breaches, and so were obliged to
postpone our replies. Nay; we even
endeavored to induce the ladies to
take an interest in politics them-
selves, and to electioneer- in their
household against the monopoly
candidates. That we were not un-
successful in this novel idea the votes
show conclusivelv The ladies
electioneered SO we'll that all the
Monopoly candidates, with two or
three insignificant exceptions, were
defeated. That matter settled, we
now return to the engrossing topic
of trousers.
Take pair of overalls sew gore
shaped piece between the inside
seams of the two legs in front sew
a plain, wide piece from one outside
seam to the other at the back, and
there you will have a perfect pattern
of the new trousers for ladies. OF
course any amount of overdress, pan
niers and furbelows can be put over
this design at the back, by way of
ornament. The bottom of the legs
and added pieces should be trimmed
with the same ruffling all around.
Now, if this design be cut in silk or
sa' in, it is clear that the two legs of
it, will show very little, unless the
wearer be walking, in which case the
unusual freedom and ease of her
movements will betray the trousers.
AS far as appearance goes, no lady
can be shocked by the difference be-
tween the trowser-dress and an ordi-
nary dress at the back, and the front
gore-piece carries out the resemblance
to an ordinary costume when the
wearer is sitting or standing. But
when she walks about the trowser' 8
shape is confessed.
Two advantages, one of comfort
and the other of adornment, are
claimed for this Partisan discovery.
In the first place, the movements of
the ladies will be as unshackled as
those of any man in an ulster. In
the second place, dress may be
worn much more tight in the skirt
than at present without any of the
present inconvenience. Ladies have
recently been SO pulled back, tied
back and sheathed in tight skirts
that they could scarcely walk. The
trowsers-skirt permits them to dress
still more closely and yet leaves their
limbs free. 1t is seldom that con-
venience and fashion are so adroitly
combined in an article of feminine
apparel, and this consideration will
induce many sensible ladies to give
the new invention fair trial.
Men are hardly less interested in
the trowsers-skirt than the ladies.
Generally, they regard it with alarm.
/" How long will it be, they ask,
"before the front gore is omitted,
and the piece at the back disappears,
and the female trowers assert them-
selves without any connecting skirt
at allY" We do not know, and we
would not tell if we did know. Even
should the worst come to the worst,
it would do women no harm to wear
the breeches for a while in reality,
as they now wear them metaphor
ically. For awhile, we say, since the
fashion would not last long. 1t is
the nature of fashions, as some phi
losophers declare that it is the ma
tnre of women, to change. LA dom'm
mobile" Last year the ladies
adopted our Derby hats; now they
are all for feather turbans or broad
Gainsboroughs. Two years ago the
ladies donned our listers now they
think Of nothing but long cloaks
lined or trimmed with furs. So, i
they wore the genuine trowsers, 0
they would soon get tired of the bi-
furcated fashion and react into long
train>robes. In this belief, we cheer
fully advocate the surrender of tn
last symbol of manly tailoring. Now
who will be the first New Yorkess t.
appear in the trowsers-skirt on tn,
street, the stage, or in private par
lors New York Star.