The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-04-03

ample testimony That so lar as the eye
could detect the difference, there was
nothing more noticeably immodest in
her dress than in that OF the hundreds
OF wives and daughters of Philadel
phia's most prominent citizens. The
court ruled in her favor on this point,
although not allowing her exemplary
damages.
What is the inference to be drawn
from this noticeable case Why simply
this, that the court realizing the diff
Guilty OF drawing this nice discrlminat-
ing line between neck and bust as in
law and gallantry bound, gave the wo-
man the benefit of the doubt. and de
cided in her favor.
In the case just cited, had Miss
Cleveland's judgment been consulted,
doubtless a different decision would
have been rendered.
In drawing the line for full evening
dress, Miss Cleveland has provoked
discussion with able antagonists. We
quote the authority Of the venerable
editor of the New York SIN, in refuta
ton of her position, who cites the eX-
ample of Queen Victoria paragon Of
modesty and propriety, who at the
present time requires ladies to appear
at her court in costumes which frankly
expose what Miss Cleveland declares
cannot be revealed except at the sacr
flee of modesty ana the Queen her
self makes display that would shock
the Presidents sister, who probably
has seen nothing equal to it among
the women with whom she has been
brought into contact since her brothers
elevation.
The truth is that our notions as to
modesty or immodesty in woman's
dress are largely, if not chiefly, con
ventional, SO that, up to a certain point,
what is customary seems modest. The
Turks estimation Of woman is low and
gross, and yet he will rot endure the
sight of his wives in public with their
faces exposed and in other countries
where woman are degraded they are
kept bundled up from view, except in
the presence of their lords or Of each
other. But Christian civilization every
where demands that feminine beauty
shall be seen, and wherever that civil
cation has reached its highest develop
ment the practice against which Miss
Cleveland inveighs SO violently, has
continued to prevail, though other
fashions of women's dress have under
gone a multitude OF changes. In every
country where women are most highly
honored and most tenderly cherished,
and where respect for woman is most
complete and sincere, it may be said
generally that the line drawn by Miss
Cleveland is always ignored in the full
dress of the best women.
This style OF dress has been worn
by the most admirable of women in all
generations. TWAS worn by our grand
mothers, the ball dress at the beginning
of this century, fer instance, having
been DIES cribed as nothing but a
chemise of pine silk - and yet Miss
Cleveland would hardly denounce tie
women of that period as immodest, or
deny that, IN spite of their low cut
gowns, womanly Iurity continued ur-
tarnished among them. The evening
costume Of the present time, SO far
from being more generous in its dis
play Of feminine charms than that of
paol pSllotlS, 10 ldlliSl IllOlS lSoNiNAN III
that respect. even in its freest manifes-
tations, although those who have but
lately become familiar with the social
customs of great capitals may think
differently. Perhaps dresses may now
be worn tri1e lower in the United
States than was the case ten or fifteen
years ago but in Paris and London
the line drawn by Miss Cleveland has
never been respected during that time.
Nor is there intrinsically any more
immodesty in showing the beautiful
curve of the bosom than there is in
exposing the neck and chest, the arms
and shoulders. The exhibition, too, is
quite as unaSsailable on aesthetic
grounds as it is on grounds OF taste
and morality. We observe also that
as general thing the denunciation OF
the fashion is apt to be more ardent in
the young TO whom niggard nature has
denied the beauty tLey insist should lie
concealed, or in the old and sickly in
whom it has passed its bloom, so that
they no longer dare to confront the air
for fear of ague and catarrh.
However, there need be no dispute
on the question. The beautiful will
continue to delight society with their
beauty, and the Others will only follow
the law of wisdom in avoiding the at
tempt to do what is impossible Mean
while for all those, beautiful or not,
who share Miss Cleveland's opinion,
only one course is open. and that is to
obey their conscience whether the
world agrees with them or not
We doubt if Miss Elizabeth can
maintain her position either in facts or
in argument with SO able a d:ssenter
from her possibly prowdish opinions.