The Indianapolis journal., 1886-04-11
Here's another:
The Low-Necked Dress in Politics.

Miss Rose Cleveland's letter to Mrs. Elizabeth
Cady Stanton on low.necked dresses excited
considerable comment among local politicians.
The kid-gloved element of both parties denounce
the letter. while the short-hairs praise it. In
other words George Bliss, o. B. Potter, Dor
man B. Eaton and Levi p. Morton favor the ex-
treme decollete fashion, and Jacob Hess, Tim
Campbell John Scannel and Francis B. Spinola
denounce it. Apropos of the whole business. a
politician of note thirty years ago tells an anus
ing story. de came from TompkinS county.
The instance occurred when Mrs. Stanton her
self wore low necked dresses, to the admiration
of all who knew her. 1t was in 1S47 when her
husband had gone from Boston to live at Seneca
had as handsome bust, shoulders
and arms ae could be found west
of the Hudson river Since her
letter to Miss Cleveland. some of her lady
friends.take malicious pleasure in exhibiting
old daguerrotypes in which the great dress mug
wumpess is pictured in the fashionable costume
of the period with the dress cut several inches
below the shoulders, exposing an exuberant bust
and showing most lovely white arms
For many years MIR. Stanton collected small
engravings of the heads of famous Europeans
and Americans. They were framed and ar
ranged in groups on the walls of his house, from
basement to attic. Statesmen warriors, scien-
lists, divines, historians, poets, dramatists and
other eminent men were put in congenial clus-
ters Here hung pictures of Walpole. Pitt. Fox
Canning, Peel and statesmen of similar stamp
In another group were engravingS of Madison
Clinton. Clay, Webster and Tom Corwin. Near
it were the portraits of jackson, Tom Benton,
Silas Wright and others
In the campaign of 1854 or thereabouts, Will
lam H. Seward went to Seneca Falls to address
a political meeting. AS usual he enjoyed the
hospitality of Judge Garry Sackett. The Judge
proposed visit to Mrs. Stanton, and, after dim
ner, they drove over to her residence Mr..
Stewards attention was soon attracted by the
groups of heads on the walls. The variety was
bewildering, but he studied each face carefully.
No where, however, could he discover his own
picture. Mrs. Stanton was at his side, arrayed
in an exquisite low necked dress. Turning to
her, with stately courtesy. the Senator said:
..Oh, that were New York barn burner! Then
/ might hope to appear among your household
gods!'
'.Oh, sir" she responded, with bewitching
smile, Il do not class you among those ordinary
politicians, but among the great reformers. Will
you and Judge Sackett oblige me by stepping
into the librarv2"
The Senator bowed, and the lady led the way
into the library.
"Here," she resumed, pointing to a pictorial
group of Radicals including Gerrit Smith,
Brney, Lamartine, Garrison and Wendell
Phiilips-"here is your appropriate place, Gov
ernor Seward"
The statesman's eyes were not on the engrav-
lngS he seemed like man In trace. Mrs.
Stanton was about to continue, when Judge
Sackett interrupted her. ALAS, madame" said
be, Governor Seward is not now looking for a
fac-simile of his homely countenance. He is lost
in contemplation of your lovely arms"
Seward blushed, and did not regain his equi-
iibrium for some time.
In local politics nothing startling is brewing.
The Tammany men have the County Democ-
racy on the hip in the excise commission. By
some oversight the law did not give the Mayor
absolute power in the appointment Of police jus
tices and excise commissioners They must be
confirmed by the Board of Aldermen, and the
board will confirm no man of Mayor Graces Sc
lection, nor will the LEGISLATURE change the law.
If it did, it is doubtful whether the Governor
would sign such bill The trouble is, Tam
many is locally too much for the County Democ-
racy. She Is extending her arms nationally, also.
She initiated six Southern and Western Con-
gressmen at her last regular meeting. The
newspapers contained accounts Of the initiation