Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-06-17
WOMEN'S DRESSES.
Reformers Should Make of Dame Fashion
a Friend and Ally.

a Friend and Ally.
| wonder if there is ever woman
who is obliged to walk about in wet
weather who i'll her secret heart does
not rebel against the damp and mud
bedragglcd skirts that she is forced to
carry around with her.
We have observed all sorts of odd de-
signs and models for improved" gar
ments. The idea and intention of most
Of these is excellent, but the result is
not exactly successful. They are usu-
ally undeniably ugly, and the average
woman will have nothing to do with
them. But is there not something that
we can do? What a glorious thing it
would be If we would all look for lit
tie while to the days when our skirts
reached only TO our boot-tops, and re-
Numbering the freedom and case of
movement then possible, and how pris-
oned and confined we felt in our first
long frocks, would cease raclling our
brains and straining our fancies in de-
vising long hideous, tapping "trouser-
cites" or divided skirts" simply sit
down instead, cut off few superhuous
inches from the bottom of our skirts,
put on n pair of leggings or high boots,
and be happy.
If our modern dress rcformers were
| wise in their generation, they would
make a friend and ally of Dame Fash
ion. She is an adversary not to be
despised and they should propitiate
her in every possible and reasonable
way There are many useful lessons
that they might learn of her as to the
manner in which it is possible to bring
about successfully any contemplated
| change in dress. One of the most inn
portant of these lessons is that of the
way in which she gradually familiar
ICES the eyes of her followers with her
various extremes, instead OF trying to
force them upon her votaries at once,
and in their entirety, Why can not we
| get short skirts in that way?
Some years ago Lady Florence Dixie
proposed n costume desirable, not only
on account of its comfort and grace and
| picturesque beauty, which are among
its possibilities, but because it is so
easily attainable; the battle in its favor
is already half won, and, quite recently,
Miss Mary f. Seymour has been advo-
eating very SIMILAR style of dress.
The principal feature of both of these
reform gowns is the short skirt. Lady
| Florence Dixie's ideal dress consists of
a flannel shirt, knickerbockers, kilt and
loose jacket; the skirt of Miss Scymours
is plain or killed, as one prefers, and the
waist is made in any style that is COM
Portable and becoming, and is supplied
with plenty of pockets; with both, long
leggings are to be worn. Already such
a costume is worn as mountain dress
and by many women who fish or hunt,
and few holder spirits are trying to
bring it into the cities as a rainy day
| dress all the year round. The boating
dress, the bathing dress, the tennis
dress, the bicycle dress, the gymnasium
dress are all departures from the every
day standard in this direction. Al
practical and accepted efforts TOWARD
the freedom to be obtained by the wear
ing of less hampering garments seem tc
tend this way. The shirt waist and the
loose jacket, in the form of serge OF
flannel blazer, are already good form
for street or travelling gown, although
the short skirts that accompany then
in the country have not yet venturcc
into town. Comfort can be had without
sacrificing either modesty OF grace
| HarpCrS BaZar