Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-07-06

dent that this assumption q. e, that
women are possessed of two legs)
is deliberately disguised and ignored by the
form of womans dress usually adopted, and
that the skirt is both q deception and hind
rance. Now, in woman's dress, the practice
departs mos, seriously from the right prn-
cipes--far more so than in mans, and in her
case, therefore, reform is more difficult and
more necessary ; moreover, the worst defect
In woman's clothing is the adoption of a
skirt"
How neatly these arguments tic together
Mrs. King is not only bright woman with a
longing for pantaloons, but logicau expert
beyond the traditions of her sea. Already she
has us cornered-struggliug in the meshes OF
nanswerabe argument. And now she
will enforce her logic with few bright
thrusts of sarcasm. She has lis in the net,
and can afford to sit down opposite and
prod us delcately, for while, with the
keen tip of her woman's wit. Note how she
feathers argument with smile, and smile
with hyperbole: "a man tied up in bag
or in sheet might not feel pressure over any
part of his body, but he surely would be de-
privcd of freedom of movement. But sup
posing the sheet were not entirely fastened
over him, but only tied loosely round his
waist, with blanket or two underneath, O
highly -ornamented counterpanc over it, and
bits of the pillow stuck over him in various
directions. by way Of padding now, how
ever little these things might press upon him.
he would certainly find himself very consid
erably deprived of freedom OF movement
Yet this is just what womans dress is like
so many sheets, blankets and highly-orna'
mented counterpanes tied round her waist,
longer or shorter, heavier or lighter, trimmed
or untrimmed, padded or unpadded, just as
senseess and insane fashion may dictate"
And then, mindful of her argument
she returns to the scientific method
She has given us the principle and the
application, - now she will clinch al
with an example. A member Of the
Association in her unrcgcnerate state is pick
ed out and bound hand aud foot on the dis
secting table of our unshrnking losician.
and this is the tabula,ed result of the exami
| nation /. Mcripo gauze vest, high neck
and short sleeves. O. Merino drawers. 3
Knitted silk combinations. 4. Linen com.
binations. 8. Flannel combinations. 6.
Short linen shirt, or chemise. Z. Calico dit
to- g. Cambria ditto. 0. Flannel petit
coat. 10. Flannel jacket, high, and long
sleeves II. Stays. ~. Strong twill bod.
ice, no sleeves, 10 cover stays. IL. Black
silk skirt to slip easily over the flannel. IA.
round the bottom. 10 Black silk princess
pettcoat, long sleeves. lG. Princess dress,
which is never short enough to escape the
mud"
Sixteen blessed articles of incorpora-
ton. The very conception rests upon the
masculine mind, in this sweltoring weather,
like galloping nightmare with four sets of
leadcu-shod hoots. We cease to wonder that
the ladies require the brief space of
two hours to complete their morning
toilets. And now observe the beautiful sim
plici,y Of Mrs. Kings substitute: "a fan
mel and a cotton combination ;rowsers," she
says, "a light and short overskir. and jacket
bodice ought to be enough clothes for any
woman" This then,i is the flowerand essence
of the Rational Dress Reform We think
we see our leaders of fashion perambulating
the streets in Il cross between Zouave uni
form and butchers frock. How think you
Mary Anderson would look in such garb
Imagine the fashionable centres of the coun-
try one vast seaside resort, gay with the
Bloomcr bathing costume supplemented with
the abbreviated skirt and the cotton comOina-
ton trousers 1t must be confessed that
there is a vast disparity between logic and
common sense.