Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-20
DecOllette Dresses.
Miss CLEVELAND DRAWS THE LINE BETwEEs
MODEST AND IMMoDEsT TOILETS.

A friend of Miss Cleveland's has given to
the press the following letter in reply to some
recent criticisms of decOllette dresses worn
by the mistress of the White House at official
receptions:
II am very glad you have spoken to me
about this matter, for it gives me an opportu-
nifty to say to you, and through you perhaps
TO Others, what / have long wished, but have
had no opportunity to say. The newspaper
statement with regard to my 'immodest
dress and its influence in encouraging shock
ing scarcity of waists and sleeves in other
women's dress has been sent me several
times, with accompanying comments, but al
ways anonymously, so that | have been una
BILE to reply had deemed the animus of the
communication honest enough to justify an
honest response. That has not always been
the case; but to day | received note from a
person who speaks Of himself as an aged
clergyman, vino signs his full name to the
communication and seems to be genuinely
concerned and friendly. although | scarcely
can reconcile the true interest and true re-
spect' with which he has given it, apparently,
to the statement which forms the occasion Of
his protest
II should hardly feel true interest or true
respect for person whom | believed to be
doing what the newspaper slip represents me
to be doug-i e., USING the brief prominence
of nv position to encourage habits in dress
and manners which are subversive of What
soever things are pure, lovely, honest, and
of good report Such, l believe, the immod-
est dress of some few society women to be.
and against such immodesty have made that
silent protest which it is every woman's right
and duty to make by having my own dress
waists cut in style which, so far as modesty
is concerned, should be quite willing to
have all women, to whom this style of dress is
becoming and comfortable, follow.
Il approve of evening dress which shows
the neck and arms; do not approve of any
dress which shows the bust. Between the
neck and bust there is line always to be
draw n and it is as clear to the most frivolous
society woman as to the anatomist. The line
need never be passed. and a fashionable wo-
mans low-necked evening dress need never
be immodest If it so, it Is because she
prefers it to be so.
at is wholly false, so far as have Oh
served, that 4 shocking scarcity OF waists
and sleeves marks the gowns of society wo-
men This is sadly and painfully true of a
few society women and it is shocking, nau-
seating, revolving and deserving of the utmost
denuncation on the score of morality, beauty,
health and every other consideration which
good men and women conspre to preserve
and exact. There is need of very few
words on this subject and no argument. Any
American woman can wear the waist Of her
evening dress up to the lobes of her ears if
she likes There is no Queen to command
her appearance in low corsage. She can also
alas 80 contrive her dress that by the expos
ure of her person all true social ethics and
asthetics as we'll, are revolted. Between
/ the two there ia an appropriate and beautiful
and mod st mean which all can, if they will,
| follow