Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-05-10
Wearing Wraps in Church.

The heavy silk plush, fur-trimmed
wrap is the fashionable rage among
women this season. The silk plush
coat of this year is trimmed with otter
and beaver fur, from three to six inches
deep. Even sealskin coat without
trimming is not au fait, although it has
not altogether lost caste. Philadelphia
doctors have, however, declared against
the heavy wrap. and especially against
the fur collar. One of the most eminent
specialists upon diseases of the throat
and lungs SAYS that the improper use of
heavy cloaking in this climate has been
the cause of more diseases of the throat
and lungs than anything he knows of.
But said he, hopelessly, ''they will
wear them if they all die. and l am only
given credit for having a spite against
the furriers. Women 90 into heat
ed rooms with these heavy wraps on,
and with heavy fur collar about their
necks. They keep on the cloaks until
they are in profuse perspiration; then
they throw back the collars and half
unbutton the garments. Perhaps in a
few minutes they 60 out into the cold
air again, and do not close up the coats
until warned by chilly blasts that but
tons are needed. But this is not all.
Such garments are too warm for this
section, and are not safe outdoor wraps
even, except in the coolest weather"
1t is fashionable in Philadelphia for
women to keep on their wraps in church,
and being fashionable it is, of course,
almost universal custom. No matter
to what temperature the atmosphere in
the building is heated, the female por-
ton of the congregation, worshiping
fashion even in the pews, bear their dis
comfort with heroic fortitude.
This wearing of outdoor wraps in
church is not a universal fashion, but is
somewhat peculiar to this city. In
Chicago for instance, ladies take off
their wraps in church, regularly as they
do at the theater, and in New York al
so.
''Oh. this Philadelphia custom is not
altogether matter of fashion," said
lady in discussing the matter. ''Tere are
reasons, and very good reasons. for it
with which the question of fashion has
nothing to do. Where are we going to
put our wraps? Take them off and bun
die them up on the seats? That won't
| do. They would be likely to get crushed,
anu lHcH Glo WOIh VI SeIIlHS OuI VI tHu
| into fashionable coat are trials to be
considered. If we lay them upon the
back of the seat, they discommode the
people in the back pew. 1t is equally
out of the question to put them on the
| pew in front of us. So we keep them
on. Give us chair seats, OF even cloak
room, and we may consider the question
of taking off our coats during the serv-
| ice.n
No woman with any pretensions to
fashion would wear wrap at the opera.
But there she has no difficulty. She
leaves her cloak with the coachman
when she gets to the door, and is thus
relieved of all further trouble.
"Oh. how about us who haven't any
carriage" cried a little lady who has
great trouble about her wraps at the
theater. There is trouble in such a case,
and the wonder is, as one looks over Il
crowded house on cold night. where
are all the overcoats and cloaks? They
are packed away, for the most part,
beneath the seats. Phil0delphiG Record.