The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-08
TWO GARMENTS ENOUGH.
Mrs. Parker's Radical Idea on Dress
Reform for Women.
From the Chic1GO Tribune

Mrs. Parker's Radical Idea on Dress
Reform for Women.
From the Chicago Tribune.
A dispatch from Chautauqua, n. Y, says
the dress reformers are on the warpath and
really mean business.
1t has been no secret that for week or
more the women were connecting reforms
of a most radical nature, but that they were
at stendstill until standard bearer could
be found. Now the leader has been found
In the person of Mrs. Frank Stuart Parker
Of Chicago. who a week ago read a thesis
on the subject at Chautauqua, and has since
been the center of attraction to the women
there congregated.
May 80, 1891, the general officers of the
National Council of Women held an inns
portant meeting in Indianapolis and passed
a secret resolution that crusade should be
waged as soon as possible against the pre-
vailing style of dress among women. The
first thing aimed at was TO secure the adop-
ton of more comfortable and sensible
form of dress for women engaged in bust
ness. This was to be the first of series of
proclamatlons emancipating women from
skirts, garters, corsets, high heels, high
collars-in fact, from everything that
handicaps the female sex from competing
with men in the various professions of the
classes and occupation of the masses. Tue
women say the slavery of skirts must be
abolished, and hence they have selected as a
central committee the following prominent
women: Mrs. Frank Stuart Parker, Chi
cago; Mrs. Frances z. Russell, st. Paul.
Mimi; Mrs. Jenness- Miller, New York;
Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward, Anna G.
Bracket, DR.. Mary Putnam jacob, Miss
Grace Dodge and Margaret Sangster.
MRS. PARKER's IDEA.
Mrs. Parker. who is to lead the great re-
form movement, is we'll known in Chicago.
She is the wife of Col. F. W. Parker, the
principal Of the Cook County Normal
School. and is herself teacher In the in
stitution. She is still at Chautauqua.
Now that Mrs. Parker has been selected
as the chairman of the central committee,
which will Lave ia charge the agitation, the
result of which is to be the abolition of the
slavery of skirts, her ideas of what should
constitute correct dress may be given. 1t
does not require much space to describe
Mrs Parker's idea of style. Two garments
constitute the entire bill Of dress. The under
garment Is similar to the JennesS- Miller
combination suit. The Overgarment is a
short-waisted dress with plain skirt. 1t
may be cut in several styles, but is simple
in all.
COMPARED WITH THE JENNESS-MILLER.
Mrs. Jenness-Miller is also one of the
members of the central committee. At
present she is at Evanston, Ill. preparing
for her lecture tour next month. She was
not to be seen yesterday, but Miss O'Connor,
the sister of Miss Margaret O'Connor =,
manager Of the National Dress Improve
ment Association, No. 157 Wabash avenue,
aid:
Mrs. Parker's idea is even more radical
than Mrs. Jenness-Millers. We have four
undergarments, if they are desired. First
is the combination SUIT, fitting closely, and
comprising 10 one piece stockings, drawers
and shirt. Next is the chemilette or union
suit. Then comes the divided skirts. If
desired bodice, which is a modified corset,
may be worn and then the outer skirt.
Mrs. Parker wishes to introduce the
tight-fghting combination suit as the only
garment under the outer skirt, which, how
ever, may be double and the under one
serve in lieu of petticoau She believes in
as little dressing as possible"
PLACED UNDER BAN.
Nothing definite could be learned re-
gardiBg the action to be taken by the CEN
| trail committee, but it IS limited that q series
Of proolamations are to be issued asking
women to cooperate in determined cru-
SADIE against all the pretty articles so dear
| to the feminine heart. The ban of disap-
proval is to be set on oorsets, garters, high
heels, high collars, bustles and bands. A
determined effort will be made to secure the
adoption Of costume said to be comfortable
| and sensible.
Stays must go, and the effort will be TO
foster a desire for that which is said to be
not only the most beautiful in dress. but
which also conforms to the la VS. of nature
and the cultivation of healthful beauty
| through sensible dress. Rasping bands and
cutting strings are to be eradiceted from
every garment worn by woman and bet
ter understanding of all that pertains to
/ hygienic garments brought to the attention