The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-21

MISS CLEVELAND's CLOTHES,

It IS delicate matter to allude to ladyS
wearing apparel in the public prints save in
that portion of them set apart for such fem
mime concerns and known as the Society
Column" That interesting department of
every well-regulated newspaper derives its
thrilling character largely from the descrip-
tons of gowns worn by fashionable partici-
pants in social festivities; but, even there, it
is not usual for any comments to be made
other than of the most complimentary nature
The peculiar circumstances. however, which
have made Miss Cleveland's clothes assume
the proportions of national issue, will, per-
haps, excuse more serious consideration of
them, particularly as the lady. herself, has
made public her views upon the important
subject.
The interest taken by the American people
in the costumes worn by the sister of the
President seems to have arisen from an expec-
tation in certain quarters, that she would IN
troduce into Washington society primitive
simplicity in the matter Of dress, which
would put to shame the giddy butter
flies of fashion. 1t was thought,
in short, that, coming in as she
did with an administration labeled "reform"
that she, too, was a reformer. That this was
ala unwarranted assumption it is hardly neces-
sary to say. Miss Cleveland had no mug
wump affiliations. She gave no promises to
the country, direct or implied, that she would
undertake to regulate the social affairs of the
capital according to the ideas of any fnical
theorists. So far from setting herself up as
Superior Person, indeed, Miss Cleveland
speedily adapted herself to the customs she
found already in vogue. Instead of appearing
at receptions in the traditional white muslin
or the respectable but not beautiful black silk
dear to the hearts of the village sister, she
cast aside these rural habiliments and bloomed
out into silks and satins, and velvets rich in
quality and gay in color. lie there is any rea-
SON why school teacher should refuse to ar
ray herself in fine clothes when the oppor-
tunity offers it has not yet been given to the
world; but the opinion seemed to be held by
considerable number of persons that, owing to
her previous career as an educator, such be-
havior on the part of Miss Cleveland savored
of folly if not of actual sin. They expressed
deep regret over her failure to frown
upon fashion by posing as a guy in
black cashmere When the awful rumor
crept out, and, after due investigation, was
proved true, that her silken gowns were made
with trains and were low in the neck, the
shock was very great. That woman who
had occupied the responsible position of an
instructor of youth, and who had reached
what is ordinarily the age of discretion,
should forfeit her high reputation for intel
lectual superiority and lose her opportunity
for teaching a lesson" was a blow. Moral
lists of the Sam Jones type held up their
hands in horror Societies for the advance
ment of women into an unearthly and dread
ful state of perfection despaired Of their race
ing had its say concerning the evils. of decol-
lete dresses, religious papers took up the cry.
The echoes of this clamor came to Miss
Cleveland's ears, and that excellent lady, in
moment of irritation. has seen fit to reply to
the attacks upon her. The gist of her de-
Tense is that she does not wear her
dresses cut below a certain line, which
she declares to be clearly defined,
and which she says divides the modest from
the immodest on the female form. Whether
this mysterious line is drawn with blue pen
Gil, or is etched into the cuticle in perma-
nent shape it would be indicate to inquire,
and would, in fact, be suggested only by vul-
gar curiosity. The lady of the White House
further intimates in indirect but unmstaka-
BILE manner, that it is nobodys business what
she wears, and whether she wears it high or
low.
There may be fastidious persons who will
look upon the writing of this epistle as an ex-
hibition of worse taste than is the wearing of
dresses cut never so low. Without going into
that phase of the question, however, it is
enough to say that the appearance of the let
ter affords an excellent opportunity for calling
halt upon discussions of this absorbing
topic. Various reasons might be advanced
for this. 1t might be truthfully urged that
no amount of newspaper talk will teach mod
esty to the women who shamelessly persist in
wearing their dresses below the line. From a
sanitary point of view it will cause no harm
to check the controversy since, as warm
weather is approaching, the bare-shouldered