Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-29

some effect in silencing the cIamor and
complaints Of husbands, who constitute the
main body Of objectors to this healthfuk and
comfortable mode Of dress.
What queer people these fashionable hus-
bands arei They will rave over the woman
on the stage, PlimsolP line or no Plimsolls
line. grandmother OF no grandmother, and
will dilate upon the charms of this or
that woman in society, who comes within
an ace Of getting below the line OF propriety
as laid down, but when their wives desire
to appear in the same fashionable and en-
chanting costumes; then these inconsistent
creatures 60 on like mad and insist that
such display is not proper. They make
their wives miserable by objecting to their
dressing in the manner prescribed by Queen
Victoria, and Sara Bernhardt, and Mrs.
Langtry, and Mrs. Blaine, and Mrs. Wana-
maker.
These should learn that fashion is q god
in whose service comfort and happiness are
to be sacrificed to show and ostentation.
They should know that society is that part
Of the human family who, as the celebrated
Scottish divine, Chalmers, says. walk by
rule, and would reduce the whole of human
life to a wire-bound system of misery and
constraint." They should remember, that
the people who hold that to be fashionable
is the highest good are constrained BY their
creed to spend their lives in social ceremonies
that, even when well done, amount to little,
save wearisome parade.
FASHIONABLE HUSBANDS
with social ambitions have no reason to
groan over the shortcomings of their wives
as to waists and sleeves, when they them
selves follow after the same gods of custom
and fashion. Only one man in the Cleve-
land administration dared to denounce and
defy the society rule as to full dress coats,
and while he abjured Cabinet circles and
''swell'' occasions, he had, as report goes, to
come to it at last, though this falling from
grace, as it were, is not generally known
around Hominy Hill.
The truth Of the matter is. that with all
onr boasted liberty and Independence, and
freedom OF thought and action, we are all
slaves of custom and fashion. Men, as they
claim, are less trammeled and less given to
the rigid observance of the laws of society,
but it cannot be denied that when tight
trousers are decreed that the very spindliest
shanks give way, to the pain and smuse-
ment of those more favored, while when
those that bulge and bag to the appearances
of divided skirts are promulgated by the
fashion plates, the whole of mankind is
speedily so invested. The power of the
press, the pulpit and common sense may be
uulbcu anu array Gu dSniHoI cOuO Aod Va snO
| all powerful god of society, but by some un-
| seen and unknown force fashion holds her
own and eventually gains the victory. Men,
it must be admitted, have proved them
selves more courageous and defiant
| of the laws of custom than women.
They have emancipated themselves
from stopping gowns (save the Supreme
Court and trailing togas, and enjoy COM
parative freedom, but women, alas, unhap-
| PLY, still hold on to the long skirts. that in
| wet weather are an abomination and a
source of misery and unhappiness. No
human being under prize of 81 ,0O0, 900 could
invent more despicable and undesirable
costume for wet weather-or any weather.
than long skirts. and yet, slaves to custom
as all are, women wear them with inward
| growl and swear-but no rebellion. With
all this in view, is it any wonder that the
profound philosophers proclaim that nine.
tenths of mankind are fools?
BESSIE BRAMBLE.