The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-11-25
DECOLLETE DRESS,
The Vanity of Woman is the Last Thing
that Can BE Touched by Argument
Strict Censure Against Women Who
Follow that Fashion.

Two Southern correspondents, one 8
lady, the other gentleman, have asked
me to say something about the pres.
ent style Of discollete dress for dinner
and evening parties. They think that
all women writer's who believe in good
morals, not to say common decency,
should lift up their voices, and scratch
with their pens until change is
effected.
Notwithstanding the gravity of the
subject this is funny, because the van
ity of woman is the last thing that can
be touched by argument. Let US take
a woman with plain face, perhaps,
and not a particularly good figure.
If her neck is pretty and her head light
she will show more Of the former than
the judicious care to see. I doubt if
such an one would hearken to the
voice of an angel or heed the words Of
the inspired.
Our masculine correspondent declares
that "every woman who thus publicly
degrades herself is bad woman at
heart and not tob be trusted" The fem
inine protester is sure that the ajGrity
Of those who dress in this indelicate
manner are good ard noble ladies, who
simply bow 10 the DEGREES Of fashion.
I do not think that either conclusion is
correct, for I know some women, who
are most lovely and most discreet, who
who absolutely-according to my stand
ard-arpear indecent at dinner parties.
On the other hand I have seen many
women who were not in the least like
Caesars wife," array themselves in the
same fashion. Again I have known
very bad women indeed to be extreme
ly fastidious and critical on the subject
of decollete gowns.
Personally, I despise such fashion,
anG while always urging women to
independence Of thought and action,
and believing that they should have
the right to mold their lives according
to the dictates of their consciences, I
will say that I never see wife with
an indelicately exposed neck that do
not wonder what under heaven her
husband can be thinking of to allow
her to do such a thing. Of course I
Immediately take myself to to task for
even thinking ''allow," but if were
a man with a wife who favored such a
style she would hear from me in
way that would pretty soon build up her
bodice. If she preferred to publicly
advertise her charms she could do it
and take the consequences. I solemnly
declare that never would live with
woman single day who was so lack
ing in delicacy offeeling.
My observation has led me to the
conclusion that every woman who
thus exhibits hereelf, no matter how
rich, how exclusive, how near the top
of the first rank of "The Four Hun
dred" she may be, is always slightly
regarded, and slightingly spoken of.
"Who is that woman?" a gentleman
asked me one evening not long ago at
a full dress reception. The inquirer
was a man of affairs, man who had
seen the world, but I doubt # ever in
his whole career as diplomat he had
ever had occasion to elevate his nose to
quite such an angle.
The woman in question was not far
from 60 years Of age, had been married
five times, and because of her money
and the smartness of her vulgar career,
had kept a corner of society, which
made it impossible not to meet her on
certain occasions. She was painted
and powdered to the last degree OF
facial establishment, but this frescoing
had only served to emphasize her
wrinkles and the other marks of age.
She worea white silk gown-a Worth,
or a Felix, do not know which-with
lace that was priceless and jewels We're
fabulous. Her husband, sensible
and fne-loookiag man, accompanied
her, and appeared to be quite proud Of
the effect of the most awful decollete
gown that 1 ever saw in all my life.
and I have looked mp on good many.
"Why, that is MIS- I replied.
us it possible that you do not know
her? Shall I ask one of the reception
committee to introduce you?'
"God Forbid said my companion.
"And may I ASK he added, what
YOU ladies can be thinking of to have
such creature on your list Of ac-
quaintances -
"Why, we can't help it," I replied.
Those who do not wish to know her
are more or less in touch with those
who see much to admire in her char
acter, and those who are under obi
cations to her for favors received, and
as these women are among the best
that we have, what can we do? I am
not sure that her style of dress is more
pronounced than that Of many of the
wives of oar most distinguished men
at home aud abroad. At London
or at Washington dinner party there
will be ten women to this one in sim
liar condition.
"Perhaps," was the contemptuous
answer, "but this woman is vulgar tc
the marrow of her bone. She is not.
she cannot be, possessed of single
womanly quality. loathe the fashion
under all circumstances, but 1t re
mained for New York woman tc
furnish the crowning instance Of decol
lette depravity. l wouldn't have hao
NV dauphter here tonight for s.. ONO. i