Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-02-04
WEARING WRAPS IN CHURCH.
A Custom Among the Ladies Against
Which Doctors Protest.
Philadelphia Record.

The heavy silk plush, trimmed
wrap is the fashionable rage among
the women this season. The silk
plush coat of this is trimmed with
otter or beaver fur, from three to six
inches deep. Even serlskin coat
without trimmings is not au fait, al
though it has not altogether lost caste.
PHILADELPHIA doctors have, however.
declared against the wrap, and especi-
ally against the fur collar. One of
the most eminent specialists upon dis
eases 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 I am
only given credit for having spite
against the furriers. Women 60 into
heated rooms with these heavy wraps
on, and with heavy fur collar about
their necks. They keep on the cloaks
antil they are IN a profuse persplra-
ton; then they throw back their col
lars and half inhibition the garments.
Perhaps IN few minutes they go out
into the cold air again, and do not
close up the coats until warned by
chilly blasts that buttons are needed.
But this Is not all, Such garments
are too warm for this section, are not
safe outdoor wraps, even, except in
the coolest weather"
It is fashionable in Philadelphia
for women to keep on their wraps in
church, and being fashionable il is.
of course, almost a universal custom.
No matter to what temperature the
atmosphere in the building is heated,
the female portion Of the congrega-
tiOa, worshiping fashion In the pews,
bear their discomfort with heroic for
titude.
This wearing Of outdoor wraps in
caurch IS not universal fashion, but
is somewhat peculiar to this city. In
Chicago, for instance, ladies take off
their wraps in church as regularly as
they do at the theater, and in New
York also.
ooh, this Philadelphia custom is
not altogether matter of fashion, u
said lady in discussing the matter.
There are reasons, and very good
reasons, for it with which the cues.
ton of fashion has nothing to do.
Where are we going to put our wraps
Take them off and buddle them up on
the seats? That won't do. They
would be likely to get crushed, and
then the work of getting out OF and
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. It is equally
out Of the question to put them 0n the
pew in front Of us. So We keep them
on. Give us chair seats, or even a
cloak room, and we may consider the
question of taking off our coats dur
ing the service"
No woman with any pretentions to
fashion would wear wrap at the
opera. 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 got
any carriage" cried little lady who
has great troubles about her wraps at
the theater. There is trouble in such
a case, and the wonder is, as one looks
over crowded house on cold night
where are all the ovcrcoats and the
cloaks2 They are packed away, for
the most part, beneath the seats.