National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-01-14
RAINY WEATHER.
Suggestions to American Ladies 10 Adopt
French walking Costumes.

Walking down Pennsylvania avenue one after
noon during the recent storm was amused and
annoyed too, at comparisons we were obliged to
make. Being thoroughly patriotic in my love for
American women, we chafe under the truth, and
rise to explain" Before me were many belong
ing to the other sex, and with true masculine eyes
/ admired the points In many, deplorcd defects,
and censured one thing, which am sure the fair
sisters can remedy, and that is, dirty skirts and
boots, to say nothing of undergarments in this
winter season. One of the number before me as
evidently French w0man--at least In point Of
attire Her dress was dark and
SHORT ENOUGH TO CLEAR HER ISsTEP
in walking and her sack-shaped gossamer was no
longer. Every other belonging was dark and in
keeping with the day. What were on her feet, and
were they small? Well, good strong walking
boots, over which were pair of" arctics," and as
l glanced down at them and then sought the face
for an idea of woman who could so defy public
opinion, caught mockng smile and the dark
eyes seemed to say: my feet are like Chinese
pug their beauty is their clean ugliness" Truly
they were neat. Not spot of any kind OH tho
skirts while free step and iRsOucant air told how
little the bad walking troubled her. Some uncon-
sclous movement suggested the gay bOulCyards
of Paris OH which sauntered during three years
OF Bohemian life, in which IstOred away some i'm
pressions OF French taste, and now offer them for
the consideration Of our own ladies, hoping they
will be willful enough to ADOPT the style. NOlight
colored garments, unless dark grays can be con-
sideTed such, form any portion of their get up"
The gossamer, which presents itself everywhere,
is great ftvorite, but much shorter than we find
1t In Washington. Shorter for the reason that the
dress 1t covers only comes TO tho instep. This
leaves the whole foot exposed
But WHAT OF U2
Is II not nenter and more modest than TO be com =
pelled by longer one" to grab IL ut the side and
hold II up in crossing streets or pools of water
thereby making nm expose OF dirty, draggled skirts
and sOiled stockings? Or worse yet, let 1t trail
through mud an inch thick, leaving Imagination
TO supply the effect on the ankles Even If hid
den from sight, the disrObing % our masculine
sense), must be disgusting. l fancy hear sOmt
one say, IA French woman has a prcticr iuut.
Wrong there. For 10 women in The world have
such beautiful feet Tvs the Americans. The proc
of which is in the fact of other nations trying t.
| initiate them by claiming 10 wear our style %
shoes. Two of the finest establishments in PHrl,
| (Perrys aud pincts) advertise MS having Amcri.
can work. Then why should we be ashamed o.
| our feet2 If this cgOtlsical nation acknowledges
the fact of their superiority. we can accept II as
| truth without any cumpunctions.
| FRENCH WOMAN SELDOM WEARS LESS THAN A NO.
| but incascd In good, square heeled walking
| boot of medium thickness, With skeletons or box.
| rubbers for rainy weather, and arctlcs for snow
| and slush she moves along through the street.
| with uninoumbered steps. All the gay coors thai
! good taste will allow in the street are displayed
| on bonnet and neck trimmings, but these are very
few especially in bad weather. Tho first attribute
| of reiinement-that Is, cleanliness--is outraged
every duy by the prevailing custom of long skirts
| during muddy weather. Where II gait Is defective
| giving advantageous" appearance to thI
movements in walking II the feet are exposed
| we can only suggest the same training soldier
| has which in time will cure the worst case OF un'
evcnness in step. So this cannot possibly be- an
| excuse for untidiness. Northern ladies' seem Il
| have reached this conclusionsovner than our own
for in Boston, New York, and other places We have
noticed more pains arc bestowed on this subject.