Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-11-19
"Bab" Objects to Mckinley's
Bill--Makes Corsets Dearer.
WHAT WOMEN CANNOT DO.
Bah" Delivers Lecture on Her Sex to
Group of Women.
Why Should American Men Wish to Make
Corsets Dearer?-Don't They Want
Women to Look Trim and Neat,
With a Figure All Divine?
Copyright, 1891, by the Author.l
N-.nnr N-n,r tpf

From Our Regular Correspondent
1t would interest me very much to know
what the Republican party have to do with
corsets. Why should the Mckinley bill
raise the price on corsets and pearl buttonsa
Does it wish the women of the country to
become shapeless creatures, and to fasten
their belongings with safety pins9
WHY SHOULD CoRsETs BE DUTABLE!
You can't put entire confidence in a safety
pin. It's the sort of thing that has Il will of
its own, and it's safe or unsafe, as it de-
sires. But to return TO the corsets. What
las lovely woman done to the Republi ans
that the price should be raised on the pink
satin affairs, that are veritablc stay to
herr What has lovely woman, who can
make or unmake politics at her will, done
that the beautiful brocaded French stays
should be raised in price, and be beyond the
reach of responsibility except when repre-
scented by millionalres? Then, too, buttons.
Every Republican official should be forced
to have colored China one on the shirt
which is his protection by day or by night,
for why should he decide the price of pearl
buttons2 1t would be good idea to make
him eat few of them just to see how they
agreed with him at an advanced price.
Oh, NO, WE DON'T WANT THAT
The American man wants the American
woman to look the best IN the world; but if
he continues to raise the price on corsets,
she will be as shapelesS as meal bag, and
the women of every other country can jeer
at her. Another thing. just as men have
seen the demoralizing effects of the very
loose teagown. so when, because of its high
price. we can't have any more corsets. the
women OF the nation viii become disgrace
to it, all owing TO the freshness of a few
politicians q usually avoid slang, but that
word fresh" comes III very well when men
take to tiddling with womens belongings),
and women will all go straight to the dem
milton bow-wows. and sitting around ike
geese being fatted for the prodigals.
THE WOMAN WITHOUT CORSET.
The moral OF it is this: A woman who
hasn't her stays on, no matter how loose
they may be, is given very much to throw
ing herself in free and easy positions, that
are very apt to suggest free and easy con-
versation | know / am bringing down on
my head the wrath of the people who be-
Eeve that the devil and the corset are in
combination But, really, my friend, when
do womnn tell each other a great many
things they had much better keep to them
selves! At night. when the corset is
thrown aside, the easy wrapper assumed,
and conversation is very confidential. If
woman were braced up with d well-feting
pair of stays, she would have too much
pride to tell her intimate friend OF her hus-
bands weakness; but, take off the stays,
let her sit in an easy attitude, her emotions
are varied, she gets a little down, and she
says what she oughtn't to say, and gives
confidence that ought to be kept for her
husbands ears alone. So you see a great
deal more than the Republican party
dreams of depends on the cheapness of the
well-fitting corset.
WILL DRIVE Bah TO sMUGGLEKY.
By-the-by, did you ever meet one of these
ladylike gentlemen who wore long hair, gave
one large view of that piece of the apple
that stuck in Adams throat and which he
has inherited, and who seems to spend his
life in directing how beauteous woman
should be dressed? He is accompanied al
ways by the gentlemanly lady, who cuts
her hair short, wears high, stiff, white
collar that. if she ever had any feminine
white curves in her throat hides them, and
is perfectly willing to indorse his views and
give you few liberal ones of her own.
Nine times out OF ten she has written
book on some nasty topic, and she is never
so perfectly happy as when she can talk
about the purity Of the mind and the body
inveighing against the vice of the corset,
and not knowing that its influence is one
of the greatest factors toward decency and
good behavior. It's just possible that some
editor may think this is tout for corset
house, which it isn't, for | get mine from
the other side, and consequently feel bitter
toward anybody who wishes to raise the
duty on them, and | now announce that [
will never pay it; l will smuggle, hrst.
Well, there is some pleasure in that.
WOMEN OVER THE TEACUPs.
When two or three women meet together
over cup of tea, good tea. then the sort of
club that like has met You can speak
your mind without offending the president
say what you think without making the
treasurer feel that it is personal, and wear
what you please without undergoing the 81
lent criticisms of about thirty pairs of eyes
This sort of an affair was going on the
other day the tea was good and the spoon
full Of sherry added to it did not detract
from its favor, and the question 10 the fore
was: What has knowledge done for
womer?" The speech-maker of the party
told how it had made her great painter, a
great writer, great scientist; how she had
become q doctor, i lawyer, dentist; here,
one small voice added, it was not necessary
TO teach her to be a thief; and how the
great librarie, were better filled, the great
newspapers made more valuable, and the
world at large altogether better because
woman could write a prescription, could
give an opinion as to the law of things, pull
tooth, and could stand in the pulpit and
preach and unite people in marriage.
WHAT IF SHE WERE UNwoMANLY?
A young woman who had lately wed
Charley, said that if woman mad married
her, she should feel as if she were properly
DOulti " ellLSI VI JLIC ldN
or in heaven. She also brilliantly remarked:
"Wnat would Charley think if, when he
came home at O'Clock from working down
town all day, he didn't find me in pretty
gown, ready to make him as comfortable as
possible, and to kiss him anu love him
What would he think if l were writing
books instead of that2 What would he
think if I were running around pulling out
teeth? What would he think if l were sit
ting upon tower looking for stars to come
out and make scientist of myselfl'
The other two women agreed that Char
ley would think she was
PRETTY POOR SORT OF WIFE,
and that he would have right to do it;
that her place was with Charley, for Char
ley and that he was the first person to be
considered. The other two gave violent APP
plause to it, and INDUCED in rebel yell of
delight, and took mouthful of tea that
was too hot for me. Then had my say. l
may mention quite casually that | do not
speak to the point; l have an inclination to
grow personal, which no really good speech
maker ought to have; it is piquant, but it
is apt to cause slight misunderstanding.
These are healed in various ways by the
razor, by the pistol. or by cold, dignitied
manner; l generally go on the other side of
the street. though, so that none OF these
customs are necessary.
BAB's LITTLE SPEECH ON WOMAN.
However, this time l took the speech Of
the lady who was logical, and l tried to an
swer it in a regular fashion.
Said l.: knowledge of certain kind
A0,,,, -o- ttn