National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-03-20
MISS cLEvELAND ON MoDEsrY.
She Answers Criticisms Upon Herself
and Condemns Some Society Women,


She Answers Criticisms Upon Herself
and Condemns Some Society Women.
Miss Cleveland has been sharply criticised
for encouraging at the white house i'm
modest dressing in society. A lady has
. sent the following letter TO the Boston Tran
script, which she received from Miss Cleve-
land In response to a note Of inquiry on the
subject.
~ am very glad you have spoken TO me
about this matter, for IL gives me an oppor-
tunity TO say to you, and through you per-
haps TO others, what have long wished but
have bad no opportunity 10 say. The news
paper statement with regard 10 my i'm
modest dress and its influence I'm encourage
ing shocking scarcity Of waists and sleeves
In other women's dress has been sent me
several times, with accompanying COM
ments, but always anonymously, so that |
have been unable to reply had ] deemed
the animus OF the communication honest
enough TO Justify an honestresponse. That
has not always been the case. But to-
day / received note from person
who speaks Of himself as an aged
clergyman, who signs his full name
TO the communication and seems to be gem
timely. concerned and friendly, although
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 occasion OF his protest. should
hardly feel true interest or true respect for
q person whom | believed to be doing what
the newspaper slip represents me 10 be doing,
namely, using the brief prominence Of my
position TO encourage habits In dress and
manners which are subversive of 'whatso-
ever things are pure, lovely, honest, and OF
good report Such believe the immodest
dress OF some few society women TO be, and
against such immodestyI have made that
silent protestwhlch II is every woman's
right and duty 10 make by having my own
dress waist cut In q style which, so far as
modesty Is concerned, l should be quite
willing to have all women to whom this
style OF dress is becoming and comfortable
follow.
~ approve Of evening dress which shows
neck and arms. do not approve OF any
dress which shows the bust. Between the
neck and bust there Is line always TO be
drawn, and It Is MS clear to the most frivolous
society women as TO the anatomists. This
line need never be passed, and q fashion
able woman's low-necked evening dress
need never be immodest Tit Is SO It is be-
cause she prefers to be so. 1t is wholly false,
so far as have observed, that shocking
scarcity of waists and sleeves mark the
gowns Of society women This Is sadly and
painfully true Of few society women,'
and 1t Is indeed shocking, nauseating, re-
voting, and deserving Of the utmost denun-
citation on the score OF morality, beauty,
health, and every other consideration which
good men and women should conspire to
preserve and exact. There is need OF very
few words on this subject, and no argi-
ment. Any American woman can wear the
waist Of her evening dress up TO the lobes
OF her ears II she likes. There is no queen
to command her appearance in low corsage.
She can also, alas, SO contrive her dress
social ethics and aesthetics as well are re-
volted Between the two there is an appro-
pirate and beautiful and modest mean
which all can, II they will, follow.n