Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-01
Dress Reform in California.

Now. we amt a bit discouraged" con-
udentlv remarked Mrs. stow yesterday
morning. while waiting for an audience
0rthe Social Science Sisterhood Reform
dress Exhibition in IXOr8 Hall. The wO-
men are tired ont with the cOnclaqe recep-
lion. or have other OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES they
would be here, for the era Of short skirt Is
upon us. and the movement for reform in
W0men's dress IS a popular one The
speaker gave her own trousers familiar
hitch. and strobe of TO encourage a lonely
visitor IN another part Of the ball.
Iu the morning session, which Wsg At
tended 10y only about ten persons. Mrs.
stow Wore what she calls the triple -
suit. consisting Of cutaWav coat, pair
of silk trousers. and a silk skirt falling To
just below the knees. In the afternoon,
when IL was announced that there was to
BE- an exhibition of reform dresses, there
was a much larger attendance. Before the
exhibition proper Mrs. Stow read paper
iu which she asserted that, whereas, as
Women's legs are useful members of her
body. and capable Of much attractive
dressing, they should, and i'm the near
future De displayed without any of the
silly prudishness which now insists upon
their never being mentioned. and always
hidden by clumsy bags. "Ihe legs may
Bee eueased'' said Mrs. Stow. --eIther ia
i0 time. place. and occupation. The
stockings and leggings may be made very
leaUtiful i'm color aud decoration, and
~l1Iid be in keeping with the sleeves Of
She costume. Women will very soon aS
ielrleSsly display their legs-prOperly
dressed-as they now 60 their arms, and
% VIII be a satisfaction to women who pay
NltOor $1,000 for a pair OF stockings. as
some Of them now do. TO be able TO display
4 T. nn q a uIn
worn"
The speaker then heldup for inspection.
explaining their points the while, num-
Der of reform costumes which had been
sent there for that purpose. The >acra-
neptO contribution To reform created a
sensation. as it apparently intended
reform Ia human anatomy before II would
dt Mrs. StGg pointed ont that the legs
Of the trousers were cut tull and with a
swell in front below the knee. Now, my
tegs" said the speaker. r'5WeH behind
below the knees. as : suppose every Wo-
mans do; so, yOu see, this Is wrong
Tile speaker held the peculiar garment
mp 20 the astOnished gaze Of the reioFlaers
and suddenly made anGther astonishing
discovery. There were several male re-
formers among the audience VINO must
nave made the same discovery that the
call reporter did. namely. that the speaker
garment reversed from the position us
iuyent0r intended it should occupy; but
none Of the males were bold enough 10
point out the confusing error.
Living models. in the shape Of two
young women. we're next exhibited on the
stage, wearing the costume invented and
used by Lady Habbert0n. the English
dress reformer, and by New Jersey wO-
men, the latter being a model OF a dress
which took one OF the prizes in the London
Dress Reform Exhibition. These were
much alike in design. each consisting OF
short getaway coats, trousers baggV at
The knees and tightening az the ankles.
and skirts falling to the knees. \ doll
vas used as a lay ngure, on which several
designs Of a Burlington relOrmer We're
exhibited. One of the latter designs did
not include a skirt, and was called
bicycle dresss" a bicyclist would eX-
perienee no Inconvenience in wearing one
81 that design.
Mrs Stow announced that next year
mere will be a new exhibition in the same
nan, when several London and Paris de-
signs VIII be exhibited.