The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-03-30
Miss Cleveland on ImmOdest Dress,

BOSTON, March l7.-Miss Cleveland
has been sharply criticized for encour-
aging at the White House immodest
dressing in society. A lady sends the
following letter to the Transcript,
which she received from Miss Cleveland
in response to a note Of inquiry on the
subject:
81 am very glad you have spoken to
me about this matter, for it gives me on
opportunity to say to yon, and through
you perhaps to others: what l have long
wished but have had no opportunity to
say. The newspaper statement with
regard to my 'immodest dress and its
influence in encouraging shocking
scarcity of waists and sleeves in other
women's dress has been Sent me several
times with accompanying comments,
but always anonymously, so that | have
been unable to reply had | deemed the
animus of the communication honest
enough to justify an honest response.
That has not always been the case.
But to-day I received a note from u
person who speaks Of himself as a n
aged clergyman, who signs his full name
to the communication, and seems to be
genuinely concerned and friendly, al
though | scarcely can reconcile the true
interest and true respect with which he
signs himself as consistent with the
credence which he has given apparently
to the statement which forms the occa-
sion Of the protest. I should hardly
person whom 1 believe to be doing
what the newspaper slip represents me
to be doing, namely using the brief
prominence of my position to encour-
age habits in dress and manners which
are subversive Of whatsoever things are
pure, lovely, homes: and Of good report
Such / believe the immodcst dress Of
some few society women to be, and
against such immodesty 1 have made
that silent protest which it is every
womun's right and duty to make by
having my own dress waist cut in q
style which so far as modesty is con-
cerncd 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 ap-
prove Of any dress which shows the
bust. Between the neck and bust there
is a line always to be drawn, and it is as
clear to the most frivolous society
woman as to the anatomists. This line
need never be passed, and a fashionable
woman's low-necked evening dress need
never be immodcst. If it is so, it is be-
cause she prefers to be SO. 1t is who'll
ly false, 40 far as I have observed, that
a shocking scarcity of waists and
sleeves mark the gowns of society
women This is sadly and painfully
true Of q few society women and it is
indeed shocking, nauseatins, revolving
and deserving OF the utmost d%enuncia-
ton on the scores Of morality, beauty,
health and every other consideration
which good men and ONE should
conspire. to preserve and exact. There
is need Of very few words on this SUBJ
ject, and no argument. Any American
woman can wear the waist Of her even
ing dress up to the lobes Of her ears if
she likes. There is no queen to com
n.and her appearance in low corsage.
She can also so contrive her dress that
by the exposure Of her person all true
social ethics and esthetics as we'll are
revolted Between the two there is
an appropriate and beautiful and mod
est mean which all can, if they will fol-
low"