Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-09
The Departing mother Hubbard.


There is strong probability that the fam
boyant and grotesque Mother Hubbard gown
will have to 60. 1t came in as a sort of protest
against the esthetic, cose-ftting style OF dress
which turned so many feminine heads and ac-
centuated so much Of feminine anatomy few
years ago; and having served its purpose. it
seems to be gradually giving way to kinder and
more coherent influences Nobody ever called
the Mother Hubbarda graceful or pretty thing.
we believe, nor has anybody ever attempted to
justify preference for an article so glaringly
out of harmony with present conditions of pro-
gress; and yet women Of all ages, stations. and
varieties of physical outline have boldly taken
1t upon them and made it regnant and familiar.
1t has certain merit Of comfort, we may be
sure, particularly in hot weather. and under
circumstances that do not need mentioning;
but the tact remains. all the same, that it is in
general sense manifestly and distinctly prepos-
ferrous.
The woman does not live, we take leave to
think, who thoroughly respects herself when
inside of Mother Hubbard gown. She cannot
nep feeling that she Is more or less of a deep
ton, and that at best men are bound to wonder
II she would be worth considering were she
clothed in candid and comprehensive manner.
To state the case little differently she must
know that it Is impossible for an intelligent
observer to make her out in garb SO crude and
confusing, and that in not being made out. she
Is very apt to be estimated lightly and unap-
provingly. In short, the Mother Hubbard has
an air OF premeditated impOsture about it which
an honest woman, anxious, not only to be good
at heart, but to be esteemed both good and
handsome, must find it difficult to endure with
patience and dissatisfaction. A good deal is
to be pardoned, of course, TO the tyranny of
fashion; but it still remains true and women
certainly understand it. that no weight of
authority can ever make a Mother Hubbard
sincere ana DrepOSSeSSlNv garment
1t was MOntaigne we believe, who cOntended
that clothes were invented to, mask and palIiate
human ugliness. Tested by such theory. the
Mother Hubbard is not simply casual mistake,
put positive and WantOn assault upon the very
philosophy of dress in the abstract. since it I'M
questionaby does not hide uSliness but .'giyes
it away" so to speak. and renders vague and
impa pabe all claims that the form might other
wise have to reasonable admiration There is
harmony In folds. to be sure, and the mere fact
that a gown is loose and free does not condemn it,
but the Mother Hubbard has no folds. and its
loOseness and freedom cannot be reconciled to
any rule OF art. nor any sound view of the COM
mon fitness OF things. 1t is in every sense
mlsiit, and appears to be c0ncOcted for the eX-
press purpose of setting all healthy precepts
and presidents at defiance Emerson's woman
who said that she felt a serene peace OF mind in
being well dressed that religion could not afford
would have hung her head and fled to the attic
mad she been caught in a Mother Hubbard
The gentlemanly critic wifi hesitate. as mat
ter OF poltcness to say frankly what this volu-
mlnous and exaSperating garment reminds him
Of and to what peculiar impulse it seems to him
10 owe ITS origin; but he must, nevertheless,
Keep thinking to himself that in all essential
particulars it corresponds exactly to those am
blguous and strictly confidential robes in which
the dear creatures blushingly enfOld themselves
when they lie down to pleasant dreams, and
mat II surely became the fashion for public use
through a neceSsityfO guarding the sex against
No
sane woman. we should say would care to be
lmmOrtallZed 10y sculptor or painter in the garb
Oh somnaInbulst or person suddenly awak-
ened to administer cordial to the baby; and
common sense suggests that one should not be
willing to assume an aspect during life that one
would not wish to be known by after death i'm
the tender recOllections of ones friends-or in
the lronical and flippant observations of ones
enemies
1t is due to such reflections as these. we dare
say that our women are preparing to dispense
with the Mother Hubbard What they will
ADOPT IN place OF it, we have no means of con-
featuring; but we may rest assured that it will
be an improvement. for the simple reason that
motnlhS could be less graceful and attractive.
There will not be return, we hope, to the
glove-fitting style which is the other extreme of
the dress question; nor is it desirable that the
old notion of plain white waists and gathered"
skirts should be revived. The age requires a
gown that shall combine utility with pictures
sober interest without in any degree hiding or
triViallzing those lighter charms of person and
movement which it is the right as well as the
DUTY OF every woman to specify for the common
pleasure OF the world. Fashion has its delight
full and beneficient uses, If only we can contrive
to keep 1t within logical and philosophical
bounds, and prevent the doctrinaries and
fanatics from imposing things upon us that are
not practical, and not prudent, and not condu-
Give to ease and study where, even under the
be at a radical and provoking disadvantage.
The going of the Mother Hubbard is therefore
an unmistakable and substantial gain for truth
ana progress; and that We may never have to
look upon its like again, outside the bed
chamber and apart from the quiet bosom of the
family, should be the earnest wish OF every vir-
tuous and intelligent citizen
American AristOcracy.
Long Branch Letter to Buffalo Courier
Visitors to Long Branch are suffering injury to
their eyesight by the spendor in which Attorney
General brewster lives He comipn WOO yra