The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-08

Under the above caption Elizabeth Stuart
Phelps contributes . powerful and won
derfully readable article to the August
Forum 1t were well for the country and
for public virtue and public morals that it
should be read in every household of the
land. Nothing finer has graced our mod
ern literature. 1t combines the earnest
vigor of Carlyle with the crushing invec-
tive OF Junius and the sweet purity OF
Washington Irving. It is model of lofty
diction and refined sentiment
Quoting Ruskin's polished expression of
social philosophy. that "All real strength
lies in delicacy." Mrs. Phelps ventures to
doubt that the moral development OF our
social system can successfully challenge
this test. Conceding that we of the present
day do, on the whole, live better lives and
have purer homes than people did two or
three thousand years ago. and that the av-
erage civilized man and woman is person
of decency of life and ready conformity to
social ethics. she questions whether the in
stinct Of delicacy has matured in proper
ton to other advancing growths.
Holding that Increased delicacy is the
ready proof of increased civilization" and
in fact that civilization is delicacy," and
that 1.-THE lack of personal modesty be-
tokens the savage" she graveiy questions
whether these concomitants or essentials.
these fine instincts of delicacy and mod
esty have not retroyerted to an earlier
and q ruder state of development"
There is, says Mrs. Phelps, IAN indie
observer knows (which distinguishes a
modest girl from matron. Look for it in
the eyes Of our girls today. 1t is missing
so often, it is replaced by another so un-
welcome. so worIdly-wise, so unpleasantly
experienced, that we shrink with sense of
having lost the most precious thing in
girlhood.' y
1t is not pleasant to admit the truth of
this arraignment, but to deplorable ex-
tent il must be admitted. nevertheless.
Any fashion. says this intensely earnest
writer, (which gives to roue the right to
clasp pure woman in his arms for the
length OF an intoxicating piece Of music, is
below moral defense" And who shall say
her nay? "A lady reared in the traditions
of high birth and gentle training of
. generation ago." says this writ
er, ..has q certain exquisite inno-
cence herself, like an ideal girls, which
prevents her from approaching the perils
of her children" To all such she gives
the advice. Read your girls eyes; ques-
ton her, and if she return the clear, heav-
emily look of your own high youth,
Heaven bless herl'' "Face the truth, y
says she. IAN immodest dress does not
cover modest woman. The woman who
dresses indecently is indecent. The
woman who dresses without shame is
shameless.
And good deal more Of the same scath-
ing sort She advises an organization of
those social leaders who admire modesty
and loathe indecency, claiming that q
dozen OF so in each great city would be
sufficient, aided by few gentlemen OF true
refinement. who should set an example of
modesty in dress and delicacy of
manner and speech, ana neither receive
nor visit those who might persist in i'm
modesty in dress or indeiicacy of de-
meanor. She is confident it would but re-
quire that few recognized leaders should
adopt such rule to effect a reformation.
"Society would be revolutionized in three
months" "Frem q half-nude "a liberal
allowance) set Of Bacchantes we should be-
come decentiy drsped human beings"
Mrs. Phelps may be too sanguine in this
prediction, but surely the possibility of
achieving such result were well worth at
least an effort In default OF it there
seems about as much likelihood that our
females will become Africanized in the
matter OF society dress az that Africa will
bee ONE civilized.