, 1890-09-18


self, even IL she does not resort to the
same sensible and permanent means
fashionable women carry themselves
wei straight, and not uDgracefully,
and plump, rounded figure IL by
no means rare among the 'fourhun-
dred," although married and rem
dered less beautiful than possible by
the dress and corset makers art II
10 fashionable, too, TO be clean In this
day and generation, and clubbing"
IL English, so that the semi-weekly
baths of our grandmothers have
become bi-dsily with their prog
eny; tennis, yachting, riding,
are all elegant sports-facts
which rather discount in the
fashionable world some oi
Mrs. Miller's reforms. One can not
help hoping as one listens to her for
cible prescntme OF the evils she In
Weighs against, and, as one admires
Uncomfortable garments she has de-
signed, that she may sometime bring
her skill and persuasion to the cog
nizance of a class Of laboring women
to whom tho adoption of such
healthful and convenient dress
would be Of vast value. To convince
shop girls, saleswomen, any woman,
indeed, whose occupation necessi-
tates their tramplng about the streets
In all weathers, or standing for hours
every day at desk or counter, that
they could increase their strength or
comfort, and actually prolong their
lives by merely adopting different
dress, would be deed of almost iu-
calcuiable benefit.
On q day last winter the writer
stood In one of the large dry goods
stores waiting her turn to be served
at one of the counters. The girls
behind 1t were very numerous, but
were all busted and hurried, passing
and repassing one another in the
narrow space to look for required
goods. In the confusion one jostled
the arm of second, who was reach
Ing for a box of fribbons, and knocked
II to the floor. JYou might have
kept out of my way" impatlently
exclaimed the offending one, and
"You might have looked" was the
equally inpatient rejoinder. Then
the first speaker relented: at was
my fault, Kitty" she said, but
my feet ache me So" and her
voice was almost wall. Then
II was Kitty's turn: "Its all right,
she said. az wouldn't have
minded a little accident like that,
only my head Is most splitting" "
The waiting customer looked the
two girls over. The one whose head
ached had on a heavy skirt of shabby
black velveteen, whose loose waist
band permitted IL to drag upon her
hips. A cheap black jersey was the
whist of her dress, and through Its
thin texture the outlines of a stout,
cruel corset could be seen. Around
her neck, In obedience to the high
collar fashion, was a piece of some
stiffened black velvet covered with
bead passementerle, the weight of
which neckwear must have very
senslbly impeded the free flow OF
blood through the delicate veins.
On her head, in addition to her own
hair, which was not scanty, was
piled palpable switch of jute,
the structure pinned on with two
or three heavy ball pins. Poor,
misguided child, for the face was
pathetically young, was 1t any won.
der that her temples throbbed and
ner nerves were strung 10 the last
pitch of endurance? Her compan.
ion was garbed in very similar
manner, her dress presenting no
notifications that made 1t more
comfortable, though doubtless in
her case the maximum misery OF
poorly made, i'll fitting shoes, pos
sibly with high heels and narrow
toes, reduced the minimum wretch
edness of dragging clothes. What
luster to Mrs. Miller's fame to carry
the gown form" in simple, mex
pensive design to girls like these
who stand for thousands of their
sisters, and to coax from them their
deforming and killing corsets. To
bring this preacher and this flock
together for such result some phi.
lanthropist ought to see accom-
plished.