Los Angeles herald., 1892-09-27
REFORMING woMAN's DRESS.

Miss Kate Field Says That the Way te
Begin Is to Reform Ones own.
In assuming that by putting my name
to a pledge I'D ''help start a strong and
healthy movement in favor Of freedom
and common sense in dress" should be
guilty of falsehood, for don't believe
that all the Sewalls, Sonersets. Will
ards, Bartons, Stoves, Greenwoods.
Beechers and Wards in creation could
produce the slightest effect on woman's
dress. Though Harriet Beecher Stowe
did more thaii any one human being 20
break the chains of the negro, she has
less power to free her sex from the
slavery OF fashion than the last belle of
the last ballroom. Why? Because she
stands for brains and not beauty. and
what all women want is beauty. They
associate dress reform with monstros-
ity, and fearing to be called ssstrong
minded" give their corsets an extra t,1a
TO reduce the size of their waists another
inch. This may be deplorable. but it il
true. There is nothing SO discouragine
as downright fact.
''Are we to sit down and do nothing
because you claim that all women are
incorrigible?" asks reformer. | have
not stated that all women are incorripi-
bic. assert that all women want
beauty and associate dress reform with
ugliness. Not for worlds would have
any one sit down and do nothing who
wants to give a reasonable excuse for
existence by doing something. The
choice does not lie between SIGNING
pledges and doing nothing Presuming
that reformers want to reform, the oues-
tion, it seems to me, is what is the best
way to accomplish the purpose in view.
Let us consult the Scripture. Sand
why beholdest thou the mote that is in
thy brothers eye, but considerest not
the beam that is in thine own ever
Here then is our cue. Let us begin with
ourselves. Corsets are not necessarily
injurious if loosely laced and only used
as support for the skirt Greek women /
wore bandages about the bust that were
the equivalent of the modern corset.
AS long as present fashions endure some
sort of corset will prevail, but with the
advance of science and sense lacing will
become obsolete. Having reduced cor
sets to the minimum of harm. let nj
look to our footgear. Ladies, are YOU
all wearing shoes in which it is impossi-
BILE to acquire corns? Can you strike out
for walk as briskly as your men folk?
Are your heels as low?
Then as to skirts. 1t is useless to
preach the gospel Of short walking
skirts II your skirt does scavenger duty.
or even touches the ground. Every time
order new gown the dressmaker as
sures me that short skirts are not worn;
l tell her it makes no difference what
ever; that long skirts in the street are
filthy, extravagant, burdensome and
dangerous and Ill none of them. Even
tually have my own way.
Having reformed ourselves without
frightening our friends, what is the next
practicable move? To endeavor to in
fuence by example and timely persua.
sion women who are ready for change,
or who have some regard for our opin-
ions. Beyond this / see no means of
reaching my sex unless reformers cap
ture~ the leaders- Of -fashiors. ~ ot -vrrrtil ii
society puts health and womanhood be-
fore the dictates of tradition and dress
makers will there be radical change.
sis it not absurd" argues the circular
Of the national council Of women, ''for
of intelligent women, inter-
ested in the great questions of the day
and active in all good works, to accept
without protest and endure without re-
these hindrances to health and
OF course it is absurd, but
the mistake is in giving intelligent
women credit for intelligence in all di-
rections, and for being active in all good
works. The majority of intelligent
women are profoundly ignorant of them
selves and know as much about hygiene
and physiology as the planet Mars knows
about our presidential campaign. They
are not active in work most important to
them and their progeny; hence they
transfer to the latter the ignorance and
physical weakness of centuries
Women who have received the "higher
education are as likely to be wanting in
knowledge of how to live sensibly as
their more superficial sisters; so there is
little hope in adults. Their children
must be taught young, and our system
Of education must begin with the train
ing of the body, which is as absolutely
ignored as though we were disembodied
iellyfsh. Kate Fields Washington.