St. Paul daily globe., 1890-12-07

he enthusiastic
woman proprietor of womau's outfit
ting establishment says they would.
She not only advocates the reform of
points but insists that woman
is frittering her forces through
'.eneasement instead of adorn-
ment." Woman's power is handi-
capped through the distortions and ais
comforts of nine-tenthS of her present
modish clothing. As she is now dressed
she Is uncomfortable and Self-c0nscious.
She has lost all live motion. Triccd up
III ii tallur-made gown, she is like moth
ing save turkey ready to be put in the
oTen aud basted.- She is not individual,
nor can she be until freed from the
denominations of fashion. The woman
who says, Come and see me iii my
wrapper when | have my corsets off,
and then we can talk in comfort" does
not realize what an argument she gives
TO The dress ref0rmers.
A woman is simply irresistible in the
loose, easy tea gown, and her conyers l.
ion is brighter. her ideas keener than
wnen sneathed in her satin cOrsets she
sits at dinner, a silent martyr to the
ctnVentiunalitieS of fashion
comfortable Clothes" says this
earnest little reformer, need not be
"ill-Shapen. | do not advocate the wear
ing of outre. and eccentric garments.
nor would [ wish to see Greek draperies
on the street or ungOdly cheeseGloth
costumes III draWing-ro0mS. You k OW
ChamfGrt says that one cannot imagine
low much cleverneSS is necessary not
to be ridiculous. But in every ref0rma-
tion there are extremists, and they are
sure TO awaken attention to the move
ment and make way for the moderate
reformers. Beautiful garments can be
comfortable, and extravaganza is neither
beauty nor art. This comfort certainly
destroys grace. Compare the supple
movement and attitude of the tea-goWn
with that of the dinner or street gown.
Health should, of course, be placed
over all considerations, but the
physical and artistic conditions
should not be overlooked. A rational
American art in dress should be ven
tured, commensurate with our progress.
1t is said of Americans that they dress
alike; that they fashion their garments
as directed with no regard for the size
Or figure of the individual. and copied
after the fashion of Europeans. | would
ema lcipate women from trash. I would
see them dress to advantage without
absurdity. j would have them consult
celoring, form, height, motion, in Sc
lecting clothing, and | forever Danish
corsets, petticoats and high heeIs.''
And what do you suppose this out.
filter offers in place of petticoats?
Turkish ieglets, divided skirts, silk
tights? No: undeniable trousers!
Trousers q trifle shorter and tighter
than those our brethren wear, but yet
trousers-silken trousers for the house,
and cashmere, lined with silk, for the
cry nf
trousers, lined with pongee, were
brought forward, fashioned snugly to
the hip and upper part of the leg, with
fulneSS for the knee and puttoned
close about the calf, even as Mr.. Mans
fields Beau Brummel trousers were
buttoned.
1.-The divided skirts are no improve
ment upon petticOatS," said the out fit
ter. You only have double amount
of fui!ness to flop about the ankles, to
get wet and bedraggied, to gather up
when descending dirty stairs and to
make you wish yeu had never been
born. But here is everything snug and
warm and quite out of the way. You
Such sense of lightneSS and comfort
and ease. PetticoatS should only be
worn i'll the house with transparent
dresses, and then should be of the light
est possible material. china silk, Grape
or null. Heelless shoes should be worn
with street gowns and slippers TO match
the frocks indoors"
but with the Punishment OF the cor
sets would not women lose the trig and
neat appearance they now make?"
by no means, There are ways and
means of dressing so that the plumpest
of women need not have an untidy ap-
pearance. | am an advocate of long
cloakS always for the streetS--wool or
fur in winter, silk or lace in summer.
Under these long cloaks women can
wear the easiest of gowns. The buSi-
ness woman can have her plain stuff
gown. perfectly comfortable, not bind
ing her anywhere. Then after she
climbs the stairs to an Office she does
not enter flushed, breathless, embar-
raSsed and Self-consciouS. She can talk
to man with the same ease with which
he talks to her. She may not be quite
as fascinating or catchy but she is
more forceful and effective
Are many women adopting the
trousers in place of petticoats?''
You would be surprised to know
how fast the custom is spreading.
Women who are persuaded to try them
say they will never return to the thraIl-
dom of petticoats. The husbands, too.
like the idea, and one well-known man
sent me word that he was delighted to
have his wife "wear the breeches.'n
So it seems that the days of lace frills
and dainty embroideries, of ruffles,
puffs and things. are fast passing away.
Alack for toe Street-crossing lounger on
a rainy day, and alack and alack for the
Johnnias of the future, who will have
no oillows of lace, but only plain, ugly.
natter-Of-fact trousers, to gaze upon
from the front row of the parquet!
Mrs. Benjamin G. Howard (widow of
Gen. Howard), who died in Baltimore
Tuesday, aged ninety years, was the
chief actor among the ladies who or