The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-02
TIE MEN WERE NOT IN IT.
Mrs. Alice J. Whites Talk to Ladies on
Dress Reform.

Mrs. Alice j. Whites Talk to Ladies on
Dress Reform.
A hundred or more interested ladies and
one curious man attended Mrs. Alice ].
Whites lecture upon reformed and artistic
dress at Catholic Library hall yesterday
afternoon. The minority sex had just as
/ good show as the rest of the audience did
until the last act, when be was invited out
Mrs White is just the person
10 talk dress reform. Graceful in
figure. and with a charming manner, she
displays any costume TO advantage. Her
gowns are certainly q revelation Of what
may be done through taste and ingenuity
The exhibition of dresses was preceded by
a twenty minute talk on the subject OF
dress in general. Mrs. White attacked the
evils Of the prevailing systems. She gave
vigorous rebuff 10 the fad Of wearing long
street dresses which drag in the dirt, and
dealt plainly with the wearing of corsets as
one OF the worst of the evils of
fashionable dressing. She then retired from
the stage and returned excessively in nine
different gowns, each @ marvel OF the de-
signer's ART and the dressmaker,s skin.
All OF Mrs. Whites gowns fit her form
without artificial means. She wears neither
corset nor dress improyer. the faintest sus-
picion of a hustle, and her dresses
do. Although nature has done much for
her, 1t is one OF the principles Of dress re-
form which Mrs White advocates. that
whether short or tall. rotund or angular,
any woman may find comfort and beauty
in the new style.
1t is hardly necessary TO say that Mrs,
White is an advocate Of Mrs. Jenness-
Miller's reform.
The first dress In which she appeared was
a reception dress of moss-green velvet, with
gold and white brocaded satin, made en-
train and trimmed with ostrich tips
Her second appearance was in house
dress OF heliotrope cashmere trimmed with
violet velvet and silver braid.
The next gown she sho we'd was summer
gown of soft gray and steel.
The audience was delighted With each
appearance, and expressed its appreciation.
After the summer gown Mrs. White
appeared in charming tea gown of the
Jsnness- Miller mode. It was a semi
Directoire. The back and short train were
shade of violet velvet. The front was of
striped MORE silk and black lace.
The Oxford graduating gown, In which
she next appeared, of white cashmere with
long sleeves, lined with white China silk
aud white silk girdle, evoked murmurs of
admiration among the younger part OF the
audience.
A brown tailor-made walking suit she
changed in few minutes for full even
ing dress Of pale rose canton crepe,
with train Of Ottoman silk The front
and sides Of the gown were of crepe, EN-.
broidered In Turkish pattern. This was
the gem Of the collection. The visiting
dress Of India silk, and the school girls
dress, though, were equally admired.
The man In the audience was invited out
side during the rest of the lecture, which
was none the less Interesting to the ladies
because they had it all to themselves. In
minute or two Mrs. White appeared on
the stage without any gown at all
aud exhibited the wonderful garments so
different from those usually worn. They
consisted of a Isle thread undersuit, a d.
vided skirt and dainty silk stockings. Over
this in short time the lecturer slipped q
gown, as she explained any woman could do,
and be ready for any occasion in three
minutes After that Mrs. White invited
the ladies to the stage and she held levee,
answering questions and talking charmingly
Of her subject.
An effort will be made to have Mrs. White
return to Savannah for another lecture in
the fall. il not this summer. She Is capably
assisted 10 her efforts toward reform in dress
by Miss Harshaw. who is herself a person
cbarmingly fitted for the work.