The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-06-06
Exeumt the Hose.

ency of the weather, | have rather
neglected the matter of fashions re-
Gently, but now as there is a emporary
lull as | write, few words relative to
The great world Of fashion may not be
amiss.
When the subject OF forked socks
and stockings first began to agitate
the public mind, rose and spoke in
clarion tones against their use. l saw
that our homes were threatened, and
/ regarded the invasion of the family
circle by the forked sock, or the forked
skirt, as baneful in the extreme.
l now read with sorrow and grave
apprehension that custom, originat-
ing in England and indorsed by
France, is beginning to attract atten-
ton in America, This item of news
| find in Partisan journal Of fashion
to which | am a regular subscriber
and an occasional contributor, writing
fashionable gossip in the purest
French. French is my best hold.
The journal alluded to announces
that experience has shown that the
female stocking is not only useless,
but absolutely injurious to the health
and comfort of the wearer. AS II re-
suit, stockings are to be omitted from
the female wardrobe.
First comes the forked stocking
then the bifurcated skirt, and then the
abolition of the atocking altogether.
As for myself, / am not an abolitionist
in this case. / do not wish to seem
over conservative in important nation
al affairs, but do not think we are
yet prepared to fling away our time
honored traditions and our stockings.
| am free to say that | approach this
subject with a good deal of timidity.
1t is not matter that like to discuss.
| hate to call attention to the result of
such a revolution i'll the great world
OF fashion.
Should such a custom prevail, and
should ! be one of gay and festive
party at moment when the COM
mon, low American mouse enters the
room, scattering alarm andapprehen-
sion everywhere l feel now as though
| would hardly care to live. If We
abolish stockings, We must abolish
mice and dcwy lawns.
Ii I'felt perfectly free, would speak
more fully and more definitely on this
subject, which l may truly say lies Sc
near the heart OF every true Ameri-
can.
know that the man who has been
clasped around the neck on wash-day
as he passed under the clothes-line, by
a long, cold, wet pair of tinted stock
ings, may have said in his wrath, that
he wished they were abolished, but
when he got calmer he would not feel
so.
/ 1t may be urged by the so-called re-
formers who are at the head of this
movement, that it is for the comfort
and convenience of the female SEX
alone, and that as far as the great
horrid man is concerned, it is none o.
his business. Mayhap.
And yet we cannot help feeling al
interest in this matter. | hate tx
needlessly create excitement anC
alarm, but this great social upheava
is coming upon us so insiduously-sC
stealthily, as it were-that ! feel al
though every true American citizel
should be upon his guard. On behal
of my sex, | ask that this foreign Gus
tom may not prevail here.
II this habit becomes fixed in thu
social circle, | shudder when / thinl
of the stage. 1t will be neglected.
will sell my seat near the large bari
tone fiddle, and mingle more in so
ciety.
All, no! 1t cannot, must not be
| This fashion certainly will not Obtain
foothold In the country.
The dress may be moderately decol
lete one way, but it ought not to b,
run into the ground
| have not fully expressed myself
but hope have said enough to pu
everyone on his or.her guard, as tin
case may be. Let us beware Of tn
approach OF this evil. We can readil,
see whittier this costume, coupled will
the Mother Hubbard dress, is tending
1t will some day make it necessary 70
the victim to dress herself when sh
retires at night.-BW Nye IN IngIesidt
At Queen Victoria's last drawin
room, there were some splendid East
ern costumes, and an Indian lady
having kissed the Queens hand, of
cred her Majesty an Oriental salaan