The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-18
Short Dresses for Women.

Mrs. MAY WRIGHT SEwALL. the President
OF the National Council OF Women. an
nounces that the members OF that very
earnest association will take bold step in
behalf Of tho reform Of tho dress Of women
by wearing short-skirted gowns at the
Chicago Fair next year Designs OF these
new costumes in four varieties have been
made the distinguishing feature Of all of
them being skirt. or petticoat. reaching
half way to the ankle from the knee.
Mrs. SEwALL thinks. and perhaps right
ly. that the many different national cos
tunes which will be worn at the show will
make the task Of the rcformers less pain
full than it would be under other circum-
stances. They will not be SO conspicuous;
for in these days. when both men and wo-
men shrink from provoking observation
by the strangeness OF their attire in public
places. it requires much moral courage to
wear garments so different from the usual.
1t is true that tho variations Of fashion in
the dress Of women are violent II We COM
pare one period with another only few
years removed. The close-ntting draperies
OF these days would have seemed ridiculous
to the women who wore tho crlnolines Of q
generation ago: but. Us the change has
taken place by slow stages. 1t has not at
tracted attention by its singularity. The
present Is beautiful costume. the most
beautiful Of any period. except as to the
last few inches Of the skirt. which trail
upon tho. ground. and We are sorry
to hear that it Is likely to pass
away and to give place to the dis
carded crinoline in some modified form.
A feminine eye may distinguish the FASH
ion Of ono year from another. but in gen.
eral outline the form OF the garments has
changed little during ten years past: and.
as We have said, it could not be altered
essentially without impairing its now re-
mnrkably perfect artistic beauty.
The dress reform which Mrs. SEwAnL
proposes TO introduce at the Chicago Fair.
however, Is more radical than the varla-
tons Of fashion between the different perl
DDS in civilization. no matter how widely
they may DO separated. Long drapcries
have been worn by women for many CEN
turtles past. They have come down to US
from before the Christian era. They have
always been the distinguishing feature
OF feminine clothing In the West
ern world since 1t emerged from
| barbarism. Women have worn their
skirts longer or shorter at different
periods. but they have never cut them or
to the extent proposed by Mrs. SEwAIu.
The consensus of the women OF all time has
been against the reform she would intro
duce. 1t may be assumed. then. that there
has been some good reason for an agree
ment 80 unanimous and persisted In for so
many centuries.
Mrs. SEwALL may say that at this partic-
ular period this reason no longer has any
force, however sound 1t may have been
formerly. She may say that during the
last generation women have como into di-
rect competition with men In tho work OF
the world to n degree never before known
In history. and that garments which might
have been appropriate for them formerly
arc rcstaint on their necessary activi-
ties now. She might argue that II
women are to work alongside OF men
they must make their dress as suit
able for their new employments as
the masculine dress is for mems traditional
or natural occupations. Long draperies
may he appropriate for women OF leisure
and for domestic activities purely. but they
handicap the many thousands Of women.
the millions Of women. who go abroad to
earn their living in shops and factories as
typewriters. photographers. and in the null
ttude of new employments into which they
have entered during recent years and to
which they are tending in increasing num-
bers as time passes.
Undoubtedly there Is much In all this. 1t
is also true that if there is to be reform
dress for any women it must be adopted by
all women. In other words. it must be
made the fashion. That it could be made
beautiful fashion We know from seeing
short dresses on tho stage. At tho sea-
shore. also. we are made familiar with them,
and the sight Is grateful to the eye OF taste.
Whether they could ever be as dignined
as long draperies is another and doubt
full matter. OF u certainty, they do not rem
der femninity so imposing. They might be-
fit youth. but would they not impair the
matronly dignity2 The thought Of them