St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-11-18

NN\ }AS Probably by that he
/MMV}S meant that woman in
M E.X that century would have
Il. &. D j
& ~ u full and free opportun-
" l. ity of proving herself
II W. an equal Of the sterner
"A lTH sex and of throwing off
III |, MN ( all those absurd Gus
W TX toms which have been
NJ lis so many chains and
Sl~2N letters, preventing the
"UU full development of her
~ faculties. Dress reform
is one of the crying
needs of the nineteenth century. Physi-
olOgiStS and scientists assure us that
women are not fitted by nature for the
lines of work in which men engage, and
that the home is womans true place.
But the progressive woman of to day,
without the slightest distrust of her own
Judgment, sets at naught the decision of
science and philosophy and proclaims
herself ready to engage in any Occupa-
is sure of being able to prove herself
the equal of man, and in her own
heart is positive that she is his
superior. Having disposed of the prob
lem Of eternal fitness. there remains in
her path but one obstacle. The present
styles of dress look fairly we'll. but they
are ruinous to health. If she fail in her
ambitious attempts. ergo. 1t is the fault
of the corset and hustle and heavy drap-
cries. which Slapped her vitality, leaving
her with neither strength nor vitality to
try again.
Some people are cynical enough to re-
jOice in the fact that wOmtn labor I'M
der disadvantages in the struggle for
success. They think the earth would
be howling wilderness if there were a
few thousand more StrOng-minded
women to make the air blue with their
theories and disputes. Such people,
however, are in the minority. Who is
there among Us who thinks that way?
If there be one let us bind him hand and
foot and cast him into outer darkness,
for he is not worthy to behold the king
dom of WGmen.
The apostle of dress reform, in this
woman with a form like Hebe. She
doesn't need the aid Of art to improve
her figure. Those devices which
mOdiSteS use to conceal defects in the
ordinary woman'S form, would only
serve to hide the charms with which
nature has endowed her. So like
sensible woman. she devises artistic
robes, like unto those worn by Greek
goddesses: the artistic folds, clinging
draperieS and aesthetic combinations o.
color in these gowns are enough to
make all ordinary commonplace mortal
turn green with envy. Kate Jenness is
generous woman; she doesn't want a
monopoly in this matter. Straightway
she edits a magazine, lectures on hygiene
and dress reform, sells paper patterns
in short uses every device in her power
to induce other women to go and do
likewise. just here pert young miss
remarks
kate ]. Miller accumulates lot of
money out of all those things, and makes
herself famous. 1t is Just on the same
plan that all actress advertises herself
by scandal. Kate is pretty, has al
most perfect figure, and affects dress
reform so that everybody will admire
herr
Now, of course, we all agree that the
above sentiment is extremely naughty.
We know that Kate JeneSS Miller is
acting from motives of pure philan-
thropy. She wants to elevate woman
kind by showing them how to dress in a
style which combines beauty with COM
fort.
An effort is being made to start
dress reform club in Minneapolis, but
young women are such a stiff-necked
generation. One declares: "Uh, it'sall
right for a few old maids to affect that
style of dress. 1t gives them something
to talk about and nobody looks at them
anyhow. But am not going to make a
guy of myself"
Another. plump brunette, says: 81
don't believe word that those dress
reform people talk. 1t doesn't follow
because wear corset that | am fool
ish enough to injure my health with
tight laclng. A corset, if properly
worn, only makes person look trim
and neat. | never was i'll day in my
life, so dress-reform can't work any
wonders for me.''
A dreSSmaker said: "The average
woman is far from perfection, physic-
ally. She has perfect right to use any
little device which will make hel more
presentable. Every woman owes it to
society to look her best. Loose and
limp dresses are well enough for work,
but you will never find Worth designing
any gowns which can be hung on straps
from the shoulders and look effective"
A clerk in one of the leading stores
said: Ladies' underwear is woven so
as to fit perfectly, and for years no other
sort has been in demand. A dress will
not fit smoothly unless the underwear
is of fine quality and fit the body closely.
Even our most fashionable people wear
no more than is necessary for warmth
and comfort. Dress reformers must
possess more genius than artists if they
can devise underwear which will fit
better or be more healthful than that
made by leading manufacturers" A
society girl said: The woman who
says she wore corset two or three davs
and it nearly killed her, must have
bought one of those starchy so cent af-
fairs. Ii she had worn French coDtill
corset, which is so elastic and pliable
thatit yields to every motion of the fig
ure, she would know what solid COM
fort Isl"
These opinions might discourage
some people, but the ladies who have
studied dress reform don't look at it
that way. They say it shows how
ignorant the mass of humanity, espe-
cially women, are, and how much they
need education.
1t is whispered that the ladies will
give a reception soon after their reform
club is organized. Those naughty
society girls are behaving so sWeetly,
in order that they may be invited. They
think it will be more funny than a
Let US not sit in Judgment
before we have seen the reformed
dress. The ladies who have the cour-
age to adopt it certainly possess moral
courage. Perhaps they are right and
all the world wrong. ''Quien sabe?"