Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-09

will come in again. Fashions arc formed
by accident generally, occasioned by beau
ties ordeformities of those the world chooses
to call great.
The Princess of Wales happens to have
long neck with some defacng scar, so the
women of the world are condemned to wear
high choking collars. Pompadour was TOO
short so she adopted the high heels to make
her look taller, and to this day women are
being punished with French heels. Anne
of Austria had pretty arms and set tne
fashion of short sleeves to show them. VIC
toria is pigeon-toed, so long skirts are per,
petuated George ~. and Beau Brummel
set thes style for the dandies of their day,
and pretty looking objects they were. Ihe
Prince of Wales and his SONS are the glass
| of fashion for the "dudes" of to-day. Bern
hardt and the demi-monde of Paris, and the
stars of the stage who make dress take the
place of genius are also the leaders OF the
fashions of the times. Nothing seems to be
too absurd to follow.
The style this year Of wearing gowns
sweeping the streets is an illustration OF
the slavish following of fashion. To see
women carrying packages, holding up an
umbrella and clutching their skirts out OF
the mud and filth is sight for gods and
Iucu, Dub HuoIuST Soo0 VI SfiA,
sacrifice of taste or comfort, the DEGREES OF
fashion must be obeyed.
THE NEWS FROM cHAUTAUouA
But the news comes from Chautauqua
that would give joy to the world if there
were any hope or faith in their dress-re-
forming scheme being carried out. or bring
ing deliverance. A crusade against the
fashion of womsn's dress by reformers
xl or,l g. n o.
seems like "the baseless fabric of dream. !"
Years ago q similar agitation took place.
The corsets, the bustles, the high heels, were
condemned by wise men and women and
doctors. The press, the pulpit and the
platform were filling the world with con-
demnation of the fashion of woman's dress
as destructive to health and happiness and
comfort. The wasp waists, the weights OF
long dresses, were as e1ecrated then as now.
The vanity and frivolity of women in cloth
ing themselves in manner which impeded
all exercise and freedom of movement, and
planted more people in the grave than
whisky" as Miss Willard puts it, were the
subject of continual protest, but no sooner
did the few brave women who desired re-
form adopt the bloomer than a howl
of derision went up from Maine to Cali
fornia, and was heard around the world
Their object was health and freedom. The
daughter of Gerritt Smith was the first to
wear it. A few inches of calico and silk set
the country on fire. Gerritt Smith said
then that "woman's dress would be her
battle ground, and that her triumph there
would be her triumph everywhere" Have
they reached that stage of the game at Chau-
tauqua?
WOMEN WHO WORE BLooMERA
Among the early advocates Of the
'cBloomer," and who adopted it were Eliza
beth Smith Miller, Mrs Cady Stanton,
Amelia Bloomer, Sarah and Angelina
Grimke, Lucy Stone, Susan B. Anthony,
Mrs. William Burleigh, Celia Burleigh,
and other leaders in reform, with many of
lesser note. Mrs. Stanton says she wore the
dress two years and found it great bless
ing. 1t gave her delightful sense of lib
erty to be able to run up and down stairs
with her hands free-to trip through rain
and snow with no skirts to hold up or drag
gle, and to be released from the vexatious
annoyances of long skirts. But, she adds
in her "reminiscences, "such Is the tyranny of
custom that to escape being stared at, con-
stant criticism, rude remarks, prosecutions,
and mobs, we one by one had to return to
the old slavery and sacrifice freedom to re-
pose"
Will this present attempt be moro suo-
cessful? When the enthusiastic girls and
conscientious matrons go home from Chau-
tauqua will they be able to bid defiance to
the edicts of fashion as promulgated by the
leaders in London and Paris? Can Frances
Willard wheel the whole army of the w.
C. T. U. into line and deliver women from
the impediments of long skirts, garters,
bustles, corsets, high collars, high heels and
all that interferes with their health and
freedom?
TOO MANY FOOLS ARE ALIVE &.
Judging by the past the result would
seem to be rather dubious. The task is a
tremendous one. The hardest thing in the
world to be done is to make wise and sensi-
BILE people out of fools. The Chautauqua
women evidently contemplate the conver-
sion of the American continent to good
sense and wisdom, but would not be a less
difficult enterprise to send missionaries to
convert the few women who set the fashions
in London and Paris? If for the benefit of
all mankind-for men are interested
in this momentods projected revolution
against the tyranny of custom and oppres-
sive sovereignty of fashion as well as
women-Alexandra Victoria, Sara Bern
hardt and the few others could be induced
to adopt chic, short skirts, to abolish cor
sets, and all the other abominations, they
would be entitled to the praises Of suffering
millions.
The Princess of Wales has presumably as
much sense as her brains will allow, but if
she had little more, with the power and
influence with which she is credited, what
might she not do in the way of reform in
dress, and in making life happier and
brighter for all women and all men?
TOO MUCH FAITH CURE IN IT.
Still is it not disgraceful that American
women should be the slaves of fashion to
suoh an extent that they have not the
courage to break away from Europe and
adopt for themselves what is useful, suit
able and beautiful s'There has never been
q period of such utter stupidity in dress as
the present for both men and women" says
Edmund Russell. 1t is reported that from
this state of things and from the bondage
in which they are held as slaves of-custom
and fashion, the Chautuaquans propose that
The Lord shall deliver them, but it is
hardly likely the Lord will interfere.
When Adam and Eve were created they
were not intended to be hampered with
dress They took to the clothes business of
their own accord, or rather melted by the
devil, and through their sin all mankind
has become the prey of fashion, and have
found that all is vanity and vexation of
spirit. The crusade for dress reform may
inspire hope, but its success will not be
owing to the "faith cure"
BESSIE BRAMBLA