Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-22
Rare-Armed Women.

The Chicago papers are discussing with
a good deal Of interest, and some excite
ment the question whether woman has
a right to 20 around with bare arms. 1t
is to be supposed that the question relates
principally to the society woman: but, if
the matter Of health and convenience are
to be considered. as we'll as the matter Of
society prOpriety, it Is question that in
terests every woman and some Of the men.
Indeed we are not at all certain thai more
men than women will enter into the argu-
ment, the women, meantime, doing pretty
much as they please, as has been their
custom.
The proposition depends altogether on
the question whether women shall wear
their arms in a state Of nature. Probably
the most enticing arm known to the pub
lie is carried by Fanny Davenport, and it
would be sinful in her TO hide il with 50
much as a bracelet: yet the time is at
hand when the colossal limb will cease
to be attractive, for there is that in accu-
mulated years and extra health that tends
to grOssness. The arm Of Mary Anderson
might easily. with the slightest sickness.
become 50 attenuated as to lose the ''lOng
white glOry' which "A Western critic
spoke Of with such tender exuItatiOn, and
in that case she had better wear a mitt
extending to the shoulder. The arm
Of Janauschek always looked as if 1t
longed to be hidden from public
view. for, despite the powder that
whitened it. it was unsymmetrical, and
there was a suspicion Of yellowness be-
meath which was hateful to the artistic
eve and the poetic soul. There are also
the arms Of Clara Morris, the painfulness
Of whose exhibition could hardly be re-
deemed by a resort to the arms of Rose
Coghlan and Agnes Booth; and in the
minds eve Of the thoughtful persons there
are hundreds OF arms Of similar ampli-
tude, without counting those Of Mrs.
Langtry, whose presentation to cold
world could hardly be atOned for if the
thoughtful person were TO be surrounded
by those Of Lillian Russell or the slightly
better but rather too mature emblems Of
affection Of the gentle Aimee.
We can imagine a similar discussion as
to the lower eXtremities. How much and
how little shall be exhibited? Her Ma
jesty the Queen insists upon dresses with
low necks, regardless Of age and previous
condition Of servitude, and the result is
frequently so melancholy as to make one
blush for his mothers sex. In the ballet
one expects both legs and arms. and yet
in the ballet one frequently looks merely
to weep, and wonders why the managers
of the ballet didn't insist on covering the
ballots entire anatomy, even to the extent
Of shooting its more or less nImble feet
with the requisite amount Of shawl. But
society mentions the foot, the ankle or the
remainder Of the wherewith to 90 out for
exercise when one hasn't a horse at hand.
There is occasional talk regarding mono
gram garters, and there are styles in
hosiery: but the arms the society thing,
and ali morality and prOpriety turns to it
whenever there is talk as to how much
and how little, forgetting the more captl-
waiting and the more interesting eXtreml-
ties. The omission is curious to one who
has seen the human form as it has deyel-
Oped itself at the watering places this
summer. There has been no limit to the
display, and indeed, the question most
natural to the observing person is
whether a pair OF mlts would not De
rather more proper for the entlre
body than the conventional garment, at
whatever end it may be proper to abbre-
viate them.
But these things, as we have intimated,
ought to regulate themselves. There are
women who should bare their arms, and
there are others who should cover them
selves IN many thicknesses- why should
If be necessary for man to wear dress
coat when he doesn't look well IN 1t!
WHY should it be asked Of a skeleton to
hare her arms or her legsy The bal
LET has to adopt certain customs, or
n would not be ballet; but the society
lady should be her own judge as to
what to wear and when and how to wear
ii. IL is good thing that the tyranny OF
fashion does not extend to the bathing
house and the beach; but it would be a
better thing if the tyranny were not so
evcessiye that when q lady went out to
bathe She need not feel called upon to go
Inv way of relief to the extreme of uncOn-
vantionalism, Let the society lady 90 as
she nIeases. If she be really a lady she
will make herself as pleasing as she can
TO the company in which she goes, with
out the slightest fracture of any pro-
priety.