The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1892-04-26
NELL'S LETTER.
She Talks About the New Gowns
The Gymnasium and
Other Things.

ent regarding woman emancipation
from the shackles of clothes," I've
been a-tbinkin' over SINE things and
l have concluded that instead Of being
emancipated, We are going back to
the days WHEN women were not only
slaves to clothes, but slaves to silly
caprices in the way of attiring them
selves.
Now, for instance, there is the
abominable trained gown with which
you and your own Nell, as well as
scores of others, are sti cted this
summer, with its tight front and in
decent want of pesticoats and its son =
eral adhesiveness to the figure.
Actually, Nell. when went down
the street with Frank the other day, l
couldn't help feeling ashamed.
He bad on light gray trousers and
l had on light gray-''trousers," the
only difference in our garb being that
he had his divided to suit the wants
of his separated limbs, and they were
called "trousers, mine were not di.
vided and the "tbing" was called .
"gown." Every step l took l seemed
to kind o knock together, and every
time l crossed over the street, had
to grasp at my rear like q man trying
to reach his "pocket pistol"
The sidewalks were dirty
too-they always are in Sedalia-and
the groceries with their usual lavish
overflow adding to the dirt made a
truly elegant mess in which to trail
my gown. But l did it, of course l
did, 1 wasn't going to be outdone by
any other woman, you know Madge,
but / declare to you, when l saw q
boy with his knees well through, q big
pair Of roomy shoes on and an old
coat that fitted him like a Roman
toga, l envied him and ye; had not
the courage to 60 home and take that
"rig" Of mine of, incluling my long
square toed shoes, my gloves which
were SO tight. felt like had plasters
between my fingers. my hat-that lie
to say my "spring" hat, literally a
couple Of wire springs with q dab Of
lace over it, aud my new lace veil
jabbing me around the chin every
moment. and throw it into the fire, as 1
felt like doing. No, indeed, l went
home, took Oft my shoes and gave my
abused toes a chance to spread, took
of my gloves and rubbed one poor
purple palm against the other, unpin-
ned my hat before the glass, "suaked"
off that gown and put on a dear old
petticoat, big roomy wrapper and
a pair of slippers that we're
nearly as large as my feet and
then lovingly and with tender hands
removed from the traine the stale tur-
nips, the rusty onions and cheese rinds,
the rich brown tObocco chews, the bits
of paper and a generous fringe of mud,
and then with great satisfac ion hung
the gown away-ready to wear it and
suffer again, because il is "quite up"
and Mrs. - has not yet been able to
come within mile of it.
Speaking of the new gown, Madge,
reminds me of story that is going
the rounds. A certain young married
lady was about to GO down town on a
shopping excursion, and just as she
stepped out Of the large vestibule door,
it swung shut on her traine, and 10
she was caught, and there she was.
She couldn't turn and open the door
and she couldn't reach the bell. Then
she had a happy thought she would
remove her skirt-climb out of it, as
it were, and then with a pull at the
bell she would be all right. She drop
ped her parasol and began to "climb,"
but alas in good time she remembered
that she didn't have on a sign of a
petticoat, nothing but her sDug-ftting
union suit, and she was at last obliged
10 wriggle and twist until she man.
aged to reach the bell, and her
bushes and herself were thus saved
rom mighty unpleasant predlca-
nent.
Madge dear, it does occur TO me,
hat there should be more sensible
mothers in Sedalia than elsewhere
md yet judging from the manner in
which girls at the most critical time
n their lives are allowed t." straddle"
.bout the gymnasium, l can't sly
hat l think some of these mothers
ire going to win prize. happened
o be at the foot of the stairs a few
'venings since when eight painting
urls anywhere from Is to IL came |
lown the long stairs and l listened to |
What they had to say. One declared /
hat she was nearly dead, that che
1as in perspiration, the whole time
he was "practicing" and now she was
oo~1,, A-.xlz.l |