The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-11
THE NORTHUMBERLAND.
A Plain Countryman Writes to Know Some
thing About the New Fashion,

want you to answer me a question. Is it con-
sidered in good society respectable for grown
wimmen folk to wear this new-fangled sort
OF a covering they call "mutherubbard?'
Abouta week ago a lady moving in the first
circles in the city-leastways she says she
does-come to Grannytown, and she has just
tore up the whole place with excitement,
all from walking along the main street
dressed Q'll say out of politeness1 in the
outlandishest garment most of us most ever
see. Pom my honor, sir, when 1 see her /
be swizzled if l didn't think she was waikin'
advertisement of some patent speckled night
gownd. Maria Ann-thats my wife-laugh-
ed at me and says: ''Why, that's a muther-
ubbard; | see lots of them when l was up to
Indianapolis" 1 had heard of the things.
but 1 always thought they was some specie
of rubber clothes.
Well, sir. you just ought to see the expires
sions on our peoples faces and heard their
honest comments Old Deacon Carter most
what l call swore. "Be dummed,"
says he, "if my wife was to go
OH the street with one of them
dummed contraptions on, if l wouldn't light
out for new pastures by next trapr' Lawyer
Jinks, he says, We'll, always thought there
was no contemptibler got up specimen of
humanity than the dudy, but if that there
shapeless beltless bolster case construction
don't take the rag off of tight pants, then
hang me if 1 don't vote the old ticket
Only one man in the whole place, Sol.
Barnes-and he's an old gray-headed cuss,
that talks all sorts of disrespectable stuff
seemed to have any different ideas by
Josh, boys, like that" says he, ''if there is
any one way woman looks we'll il is with her
nightgownd on.'
As for the wimmin, of course they turned
up their noses, superior like, and put on that
contemptuous look that seems TO stick out
all over them when any of the sect has the
courage or the cheek to strike out in new
line. But you know how it is, sir; there's
always wimmen who will do most any thing
to be conspicuouser than others, and I'm not
saying there amt men, too; and | under
stand that more than one of our nice
pretty girls who look sweeter than any
flowers in their neat, white dresses, is at
work building up these, what the minister
calls blasted Objects
| Why, Maria A.-thats my wife for these
twenty years-she says to me this
morning, civilian, l guess I'll have to
struck dumb at first, and came near getting
mad; but minded that wimmen 1nust have
the excitement of taking hand, one way or
another in what's going on and besides, an
| imaginary picture rose up OF our fat LIZ.
| sailing down the street with her head stick
ing out of fan-shaped sack about five foot
| across and most laughed right ont, which,
| for reasons which all married men under
| stand didn't want to do So, after think
ing SPELL says l: my dear for the little
! ones-boys and girls-it don't make much
difference what they have on to knock
around and climb fences and roll in the dirt
in. Children's so full of life and spring that
they look graceful in salt sacks, and, for that
matter with nothin' on; but, mind YOU, | draw
the line at Bet, (she's nine year old). For
| Sal. and Liz. and Maria (any one Of them as
| tall as their MOTHER l won't have them
stalking about looking as ii their father
hadn't money enough to buy them anything
| better than cotton bags, and l won't have
such slommicky things worn about the
house, neither By gum, when they get too
lazy to make the neat gowns they have been
wearing, let 'em stay in bed.'
This gives my idee, sir and, talk
ing about home dresses, if there's
anything I hate and set down
as disrespectful to the men of family it's to
see woman going around slipshod, hair all
fruzzeed up, and a draggly, may be dirty
old wrapper on. 1t takes my appetite right
away Auu II 81 easy, IOO-JuSl Il lew
| touches of the hair brush, clean apron, a
ribbon or two makes ali the difference be-
tween the angel of home and a slattern
l am told this new fangle is an old fangle
"a trivial of our grandmothers' styles 1
just don't believe our grandmothers ever
wore such things except those who could
only afford one set of GOVERNS for night and
day. But if it's old fashions they want to
revive l wonder in my simple way why don't
they go back to the earliest and wear what
Eve did? l am sure there would be more
shape" even if some not very pretty, and
what some lays such stress on would be
gained-they would attract lots of attention.
| would like to have my question an
| swered, so as to know what people think in
more advanced places than Grannytown
This indianapolis woman has raised an ever
lastin' debate here, and in my plain country
bringng-up l take the side that it amt very
highly respectable TO make persons self
conspicuous by getting themselves up as hid
eous as possible. FARMER WILLIAM.
GRANNYTowN, Aug. 9.