The Portland daily press., 1882-11-17
The independent Boston Women

[Bost n Corr. Hartford Courant.l
The women of Boston may not get the right
of suffrage before women elsewhere, but with
out that right they are the most independent
women in the world. They possess the most
genuine freedom aud independence, that OF
wearing whatever they wish, whether it be
from choice or necessity. They are not de-
pendent upon clothes, or trammelled by fash
ion. III their garments have the antiquity Of
the ark, no one comments or calls them odd.
1t is the season for shopping, and all Boston,
with her suburban towns attached, throngs the
stores, large and small, and the streets are
full of energetic women of all ages, buying
clothes. One has but to sit in some quiet,
open doorway, as did the other day, to see
how Boston women work when shopping.
How energetically they stride along, and with
such business air on their faces! 1t is no
nonsense, no pleasuring for them, but real sys-
tematic work. There is none of the languid
grace and indolent manner of women further
south; and none of the dash and coloring as
seen in the toilets of New York women.
Blacks and grays predominant in serviceabe
materials, made without regard to prevailing
styles, and more for comfort, as well as often
for economy, on the part of the wearer. Old
costumes that would be 'gone by" in other
cities, may be worn with great peace of mind
here. There is no shabbiness, for women here
are neatly and carefully clad but whether in
the fashion or out, is not question to worry
them. New York, jaunty, dashing and fond
of coioIs in dress, would call the elite of the
Hub stability dressed, for some of the ssswell-
est" people here dress the plainest, not only in
the street, but for church as WE'LL
Boston ignores butterfly brlliancy, and Is,
when compared with other cities. severely
plain. And why not? The women here are
more highly educated. more learned in
book lore, than women further west and
south. They cannot help 1t, they live il such
an atmosphere of books and the study of the
bindings alone would make tee ignorant edu-
Gated Every house has library OF books, if
it has not much beside If they are superior
in learning to other women, they have also had
superior advantages. In this centre of intei-
lectua culture, learning and literary work.
why should not the women be learned and iii
erary? And they are. For this reason they
SEEN above the frivolities of fashion, and are
tree to wear just what they choose. woman
of brains and culture is sure of herself, and
need not be dependent upon the fine fea hers
that do max fiue birds, whatever is said to the
contrary. And yet L really think Boston
women could bear a little more finery of attire,
that little cooring, even Of the butterfly or
rainbow, would give warmth and relief to
taeir sombre sever ty. The New England re-
serve would seem less formidable. and
they would not be the less cul-
tured, either. There is no wasteful ex.
Iravagance in buying a color that is
becoming and dressmakers do not charge
auy more to put clinging draperies on stout
figures, aud pnffs on slender forms, instead of
reversing these styles At the same time as
sert that Boston woman who may be dressed
like a guy, is more pardonabe than any other
woman, because her intellectual superiority
putt all deficiencies of taste III the background
Boston aesthetic and the women ought to
know how 10 dress in manner hat is bpcom-
taste runs to the beuse, and in combining ele.
gance with CONT TT, they are "ahead."