Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-06-22
"RationaI Dres>n for Wen.

IA woman : letter IN the London Times
Men have their say on women's dress, aud
decide automatically what is or is not FRA.
tional dress :" will you permit lady to rer-
resent that the mems costume is by no means
perfect, and admits of much improvement
as regards health. convenience and grace
1t is rataer difficult to speak out plainly
enough to substantia,c my assertion as TO
the first point but doctors will testify that
there has been great increase of late
among young men Of liver and kidney dis
ease, not to speak of other delicate parts.
This is owing, | believe, to the fashion which
has prevailed OF small GETAWAY coats, leav-
ing lons and stomach uuwrapt, save by the
tight and often thin trousers. Older men
frequently suffer from chill taken from sit
ting on damp seats, or cold stone, from
which woman would be protected by her
more voluminous garments. The absurdity
of the open coat and waiscoat, turned back
just where the throat and chest need cover,
ing, is more generally recognized. The prac-
tice OF wearing. in Winter, waistcoats cut
very high, and the constant argument for
wearing beard, TO Protect my throat"
shows that ii is felt, though not often nc
knowledged in speech. The large cxpause
OF starched shirt front, held together, per-
haps, with but ne small stud, is ridiculous
in every way. 1t is sham, for most, if not
all, wearers supplement its deficiency by
warm vest below, which cannot, however
quite exclude searching wind, or keen night
air, after leaving warm room, from reach.
ing the lungs. 1t is not beautiful in itself, 1t
becomes easily soiled, needs frequent repair,
costly washing, and seldom sets as it should.
The stlff collar raspng chin, checks aud
throat, is most inconvenient in every way.
A far more rational dress for man was
the d)ublet fastening to The throat aud cover
ing thighs with soft band or turn-down col
lars. We come now TO the crucial garment 81
recommended for womeu's imitstiuu-trous
ers. II these be so adapted us tOallOw the i,ea
use of the limbs, how is il that men wear
knickerbockers for bicycling, rowing, run
ming and climbing? | once heard gentle
man, who had been to a fancy ball in hose
and silk stockings exclaim, GLOW Jolly it is
to dance without trousers" | suppose he
found they fettered freedom of action. The
chief difference between mans dress aud
woman's is the principle of suspension. The
former uses braces, aud hangl all the
weight on the shoulders, the latter uses
corsets, and suspends from the waist.
Braces would not do for women, they
would cut ANA pain tine delicate flesh
of the breasts. Do they suit men! Is it not
curious that in all active exercises they are
discarded, and belt substituted? can
easily imagine many Inconvenience attend
ing their use, but content myself with sug-
costing the question. | have said nothing
about the grace of mems dress-Gvcry one
must allow it might lie more ornamental,
No one who has evG seen stout elderly
man without his GOAT can help shui,lering at
the thought of matron, stout and elderly,
clad in the dual garment, with only II irill
round the waistband of the victorious trou-
scls, valuable to the morphologist ms showing
the course of evolution. Men and women
are structurally different in make and ply
steal constitution. am so benighted as to
think their dress should al2o differ 10 quit
their needg,