Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-09-06
UNDER VESTS AND SKIRTS.

tNbrh NfSlS hND bAIhISs
Tho advocates of silk underwear
next to the skin have much to say In
regard to the irritating effect OF wool
upon a sensitive cuticle. They admit
the superior sanitary influence Of wool,
but assert that upon fine and delicate
skin the hair shirt of penitent 10 not
more intolerable than contact with or
dinary WOOL This is nonsense and
creates bug-bears where no bears exist.
A silk shirt in summer is uncomfort-
able because non absorbent and 1t is 80
expensive it is non-existent for the ma
jority. 1t also rapidly deteriorates by
being subjected to the washing process,
so that it loses much of its beauty and
softness before it begins to wear out.
For these and other reasons silk under
wear is not desirable in warm weather.
and the majority are to be congratu-
lated upon not being tempted by 1t and
on being provided Of late years with
soft and fine '.gauze" wooden under
wear, of which even the ordinary grades
(tifty cents per yest will not irritate
the finest and most sensitive skin.
These vests are high and low-necked,
long and short-sleeved. with narrow
rim of silk embroidery around the
neck. They absorb all moisture, can
be changed twice or thrice week or
every day il preferred, and keep the
corset and cotton or linen combination
from contact with the skin. They are
not SO much to wash as pocket hand
kerchief, and add no appreciable or
unpleasant degree of warmth to the
clothing They are, in fact. boon to
the majority, and should be so consid-
cred, for though not an incumbrance
they are still protective and preserve
the chest and lungs from slight expos
ure and incidental changes OF temper
ature. We do not sufficiently appreci-
ate the modern tendency to adapt the
best thing to the largest number. This
availability renders the good thing a
double blessing.
1t is quite time that women under
stood that there are certain parts of
their attire which should not be subject
to the law OF fashion and change. I'm
derwear. for example, should simply
cover the body--not enlarge, depress
or compress it. The finest French un-
derwear. except skirts worn next the
dress. follows this rule. Even hens
are not allowed and there are no gath
ers. This garment il curved in ut the
sides and center, the edges are hand
embroidered and the fit is perfect.
Women who buy underwear made at
slop shops simply because it is cheap,
without regard to its form or style.
sometimes wearing it gathered in.
sometimes loose, sometimes shaped,
can never have their dresses fitted
with precision or elegance. The corset
Is even more important; whatever it is
it ought to be OF the same cut and
style, the same depths over the hips,
the same lines inclosing the bust. The
modern corset is anything but an OBJ
ject of terror. 1t yields necessary
support to the tleshy part of a woman's 4
figure and serves rs n flexible frame
upon which to build the dress. 1t Is
scientifically cut aud curved to the
body and supplied with elastic side or
cores, which adapt it to delicate wo.
men and growing girls. There arc
summer corsets OF transparent, lace
like fabric, traversed by slender, plant
lines of whalebone, forming the frame.
which are luxury even to look at and
may be worn on the hottest day with
ease and comfort But there are still
straight, shapeless, heavily-weighted
"stays. "machine-made. cOarsely corded
and charged with steel bars, that quite
alter tho figure OF the wearer. who
perhaps thinks she is improved because
she is martyred in wearing them or
selects them because they are q few
cents cheaper. This is self-murder for
less induccment than would be accept
cd by the commonest assassin and de-
stroys the effect Of the finest costume.
--NeW York Letter in the Washington
Star.