Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-20
DECOLLETE DRESSES.
Miss Cleveland Draws the Line Re-
tween Modest and In,mOdesf Toilets.

Miss Cleveland Draws the Line Re-
tween Modest and ImmOdesf Toilets.
A Boston special says: A friend Of
Miss Cleveland's has given to the press
the following letter in reply to some
recent criticisms Of decOilete dresses
worn by the mistress Of the White
House at official receptions:
81 am very glad you have spoken to
me about this matter, for it gives me
an opportunity to say to you, and
through you perhaps to others, what l
have long wished, but have had no OPP
portunity to say. The newspaper
statement with regard to my 'immo-
dest dress and its influence in en-
couragiDg shocking scarcity Of waists
and sleeves in other women's dress
has been sent me several times with
accompanying comments, but always
onymously, so that | have been
unable to reply had | deemed
the animus of the communication hon
est enough to justify an honest re-
Spouse. That has not always been the
case; but to-day received note from
a person who speaks Of himself as an
aged clergyman, who signs his full name
to the communication. and seems to be
genuinely concerned and friendly, al
though | scarcely ran reconcile the
true interest and true respect with
which he has given it apparently to the
statement which forms the occasion Of
his protest.
81 should hardly feel true interest
or true respect for person whom be-
lieyed to be doing what the newspaper
slip represents me to be DOING. G.,
using the brief prominence Of my posi-
ton to encourage habits in dress and
manners which are subyersive of
Whatsoever things are pure, lovely,
honest, and Of good report Such, |
believe, the immodest 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.
81 approve Of evening dress which
shows the neck and arms l do not APP
prove of any dress which shows the bust.
Between the neck and bust there is
line always to be drawn, and it is as
clear to the most frivolous society wo-
man ss to the anatomist. The line
need never be passed, and q fashiona-
bic woman's low-necked evening dress
need never be immodest. If it is so,
it is because she prefers it to be so.
1t is wholly false, so far as have
observed, that shocking scarcity of
waists and sleeves marks the gowns Of
society women. This is sadly and
painfully true of few society women
and it is shocking, nauseating, revolt
ing, and deserving Of the utmost de-
nunciation on the score Of morality,
beauty, health, and every other con-
sideration which good men and
women should conspire to preserve
and exact. There is need Of very
few words on this subject and no argu-
ment. 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 ap-
pearance in low corsage. She can also,
alas so contrive her dress that by the
exposure of her person all true social
ethics, and aesthetics as well, are re-
VOTED. Between the two there is an
appropriate and beautiful and modest
mean which all can, if they will, fol-
low"
Miss Cleyelard's anonymous corre-
spon9ent adds These sentiments
are those Of every refined lady in good
society. The criticisms which have
been made so freely on Miss Cleveland
were partly from the class Of corre-
spondents who are instructed to dispa-
rage the Administration on all points,
regardless of truth and justice. There
are, unhappily, some such, and they
are partly undoubtedly the honest
opinions of critics unaccustomed to the
usage Of good society, and therefore I'M
able to make distinction in the styles
of dress which Miss Cleveland indi-
cate, and which every person of gentle
breeding understands"