The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-18
DRESS AND VICE.


Published Pamphlet by Frances E willard.
There is nothing in sex a. such. which makes
the female fond of dress and display. This Is
proved by the plain mother bird. and her brill
liant mate; the gorgeous peacock and colorless
hen: the shaggy splendors of the lion and toned
down tout ensemble of his comrada And that
this analogy holds good of the human race. Is
apparent when we consider the elaborate head
gear of chieftains. or the savage warriors bediz-
ened with paint and feathers, in contrast to
the palmer outfit of the women by their sides.
Love of display does not. then, innere in sex,
and will disappear IN men and women both in
proportion to their refinement and good sense
Beauty unadorned is adorned the most, has in
it as much philosophy as poetry. Womans pres
ent attitude toward her dress requires some fur
Their elucidaiion than that it is necessary to the
attraction of men. For my part believe that
the costly. hamperine and grotesque dress of
women-the worst bondage from q barba rous
past that still enthras us-has twofod ex-
PLANTATION. First, that when all men were sol
diers and before money was known, thew made
the women folk. who staid at home in places of
comparative safety the custodlans of their
wealth, hanging it upon them IN rings, neck
Iaces. bracelets. and rich fabrics. Secondly,
that the more women could be hampered by
their clothing-the trailing skirts that impeded
locomotion, the half barred head and lightly clad
feet which exposed them to the discomfort of
snow, and rain. and cold; the vsiled face which
prevented them from seeing or being seen, the
more were they content to stay indoors. and
thus the more especially did they become the
elusive property and utter dependents of some
fierce barbarian, who while heaping his treasure
upon en-, regarded these fair and fragile be-
ings as the chief treasures of all he had amas-
sed.
A Christian civilization has worn away the
m ost repulsve features of this bondage, but
every punctured ear, bandaged waist and high
heeled shoe is a reminder that manhood and
womanhood are yet under the curse transmitted
by their ignorant and semi-barbarous ancestry.
Men have emerged further than we, because
they mora enlightened and more free to seek
their own developement and comfort. They
have always set the fashions. because they have
always been and to day the ruling class
Man and woman are king and courier in the
worlds great realm and will he, until he, In his
growing wisdom and tenderness shall say to her.
'f will no longer make law for you since I
perceive that God has made laws for US both.
Let US hereafter, like boy and girl at school,
study out, side by side. the sacred laws of health
and happiness which He has written in His
works and Word" Man in our age has begun
thus to speak to the gentle companion whom
God gave to be with him, and as she emerges
into the sunlight of truth and becomes citizen
of the great. home-like world which his prowess
has subdued for her. she will throw off the
badges of her long sarvitude and appear in a
costume at once modest, healthful and elegant.
All roads lead to Rome. and discussion of the
0TGS5-Wn1G0
is superinduced and her senselesss extrav-
asance-which grows out of her ignorant and
subject condition, leads inevitably by logical
process or thought to Industrial independence
and the self projection OF the ballot as essential
to her deliverance from both these senseless
follies- Therefore believe we must appeal to
men to grant us where to stand We must
urge the growing army of White Cross knights
TO lift their sisters above the servility that
makes them bow down TO the DEGREES of arbi-
trary fasnion-mongers and thus trample the
O
tortued, because distorted, feet. Meanwh
let that mother know who tricks out her little
girl in all the colors of the rainbow.
puts rings her fingers il not bells
on her toes" binds her at an early age into
corset sets her to walowing in long skirt
and tits the vital organs at the Invalid angle
bv high heeled shoes, that she has deliberately
deformed a body that came fresh from Gods
hand, and msnacled soul that was made in His
image. Girls learn the love of dress at their
mothers side and at their fathers knee. Most
of all they learn it from their wretched heather
ish dolls. Girls are systematically drilled into
the lust of the eye and the pride of life; into
estimates of value which look only upon the out
ward adorning; and in this hateful school their
fluffy hair, bespangled robes and perfect arti
.&ekaiity. The kinderearten Is doing no
tRlng so helpful to Danish this grotesqus
queen OF the plavroom; and to substitute for
boys and girls the same playthings, and these
based upon good taste and common sense.
Let ahy mother who would have her daugh-
them Froebel's Kindergarten gifts and teach
them to make all their plays means OF mental
development and physical we'll being, know a
mother whose sweet fifteen-year- girl wears
her eymnastic suit to school. and is an adept
with the tricycle.. Good health and good spirits
will be her choicest dow.y. while her mincing
mates alrea " mort aged TO the rocking
chair and lily-pale miseries of invalidism.
Be not deceived, God is not Knocked; whatso-
ever q woman soweth that shall she also reap.
But in our day, the present costly and insane
cfvIa of is "a
TO vice among the poor.
Alas for the .'saleslady' who falls into the
snare of some city establishment which adver-
tised for help and whose proprietor told her,
when ''the terms" were being settled, that she
could get so much more per week if she would
obey any orders they might give her!" She
should dress IN as many fur0elows she
pleased-at the price of her own honor. So fire.
quent has this bait of filthy 1ucre become that
our social purity workers will. it is hoped, soon
add TO their efforts for the legal protection of
women, the attempt to secure such enactments
as shall make it penal offence for any man to
offer such wages TO women as will not suffice re- /
specially TO board and clotne them. The style
of dress among hired girls is often pitiful To
But 1T usually puts to shame the mistress more
than the maid by reason of its tawdrier imita
ton of tawdIy fashions. set in the parlor which,
in this democratic land, the kitchen will be sure
to follow. Il also indicates that lack OF sympa-
thy between these two parts of the house.
which is growing evil of our times. The true
Christian lady will make common cause with
her helners. especially counseling them as to
W hat is for their health and setting example
of moderation in personal expenditure. She
will put books in their hands such books as
Ewes Daughters by Marion Harland; Build
Well BY DR.. Cornela Green. and Eiiice Hop
can do much by the circulation of these among
the poor. and at every mothers meeting itera-
ture should be on sale. which those who attend
will gladly purchase and put IN circulation.
The re- alton of dress itself well as the love
Of II, to immortality. should be carefully dis
cussed. | am glad that the Minneapolis con-
venton adopted the following as specifca-
ton of its pledge for women:
II promise, by the help of God, to be modest
ia dress"
Alas, that the time has come when in the
so-calledl 'sbest society" of this Christian Re-
ublIc reputable women will appear in such
costume as makes it difficult for and broth
ers TO keep the White Cross pledge. If women
realized the unspeakable degradation of this
nosurs if thew rsflectaa mon the canseanen