The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-14
LET woMBN WEAR TIGHTS.
Miss Eewcomb's eecond Lecture on
Dress eforrn-Her Ideas



Dress heforn-Her Ideas
Frop Ne Baltimore American.
Miss julia Nevcomb delivered the second
lecture on the Delsarte system of physical
culture yesterday afternoon at the Young
Mems Christian Association hall, the sub
ject being the interesting one Of 'Dress."
DR.. Kate Hamilton Hurd Of Bryn Mawr
College made q short Introductory address
TO the effect that she hoped Miss New
comb would treat of the matter
from hygienic standpoint, and that
those or her audience impressed with
such remarks would convey them to friends,
relatives and servants. particularly the
latter. The line of colored women especially
applying for treatment at the different
hospitals and clinics she had attended, she
said, was pathetically long, and it should be
taught them how many Of their diseases
were caused by improper dressing, and
how, by attention to the rules of health in
this matter. they could become a stronger
race.
IF we go away back in the christian era"
Miss Newcomb began, 1--WE will find that
men and women dressed exactly alike-that
ls, as far as the appearance OF their outer
garments was concerned. Coming TO the
thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, dresses
changed, men discardin7 the cumbersome
retained the gayety Of colors and Jewels now
regarded as woman's privilege. But as
the mans attire grew more comfortable
that OF women became more clumsy. Even
in our own times we can remember
the stiff corset boards of our grand
mothers. There are still relics of barbal ism
among us; savage tribes have barbarous
fashions among their women, but no matter
how they de4orm and mutilate themselves
a art fhaf hos
been reserved for civilization" She then
pointed out and explained in detail how tee
corset tnjuriously affected the soft and vital
organs of the body by weakening and even
dlsplacing them, and strongly insisted
against their use. There were, she went on
TO say, three principles of dress reform that
must be observed, but she advocated no
special system. These are equalization
OF weight, equalization of warmth
and lack of pressure. But while women
wanted dress reform, clothes comfortable
and healthy, they did not desire t. trench
on masculine ground-they wanted some
thing distinctly their own Coming to the
practical part, Miss Newcomb proceeded to
exhibit the system of underwear she
thought best fulfilled the conditions Of
hygienic and comfortable requirements
The first was a union suit or undergarment
In one piece from the neck to ankles made
OF silk. This, she explained, varied In
quality, and, of course, in weight for the
seasons. Next came a pair of black tights,
to take the place Of the skirts; a silk vest to
protect the chest, and socks instead of stock
ings, to be worn between the union suit and
tights, thus getting rid of the stock
ing supporter or garter, which
latter she considered unhealthy
articles of apparel. Speaking of the
tights, she said they were very common
among the women of the west, though she
was little surprised to find that their east
ern sisters rarely wore them except for
horseback and cycling costumes. She
praised them as one of the greatest inven-
tions OF the age in dress reform. These four
pieces constituted all the underwear that a
woman wanted, summer or winter, and
were system Of economy in themselV es, as
they required neither make nor laundry,
and were free from the mass of trimmings
with which the ordinary style of underwear
burdened its wearer. The dress itself she adj
vlsed to be made in one piece, so that its
weight would be evenly distributed over the
body, and do away with bands, straps and
corSets. The fair lecturer laid stress on the
fact that dress reform is now seeking the
union of the esthetic with the healthy and
the comfortable, and that every woman
should in her dressing consult her own in
dividuality rather than the arbitrary
dictates of fashion. She also gave much
sound and sensible rdvice on the dress
suitable for growing girls, so as to make of
them strong and healthy women At the
close of the lecture questions from the
ladies in the audience were invited and
promptly answered.