The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-27
THE AUTOGRAPH SKIRT.
A Washington Fad Which Makes Peo
pie Wonder Why.

A Washington Fad Which Makes Peo-
pie Wonder Why.
From the Washington Post.
10 becomes our delicate but exciting duty
to chronicle the appearance of new "soci-
ETY." fad. Washington enjoys q certain no.
toriety in the way of society" persons and
their caprices, but this latest development
in the capitals peculiar line has ushe-ed in
so gaudy, opulent and lush an era that we
almost swoon with pride to think of Ii.
The Washing ton correspondent of one OF
the great eastern newspapers is the discov-
erer Of the greatness that has been thrust
upon us, and he handles his subject so ably
that perhaps we had better let him make
the announcement for himself:
1t has been customary for a long time here in
Washington for ladies to secure the autographs
of senator's, representatives, and high public
dgnitaries in albums. Mrs ]: 8 ambition has
outgrown the album stage. There is now pass
ing thro ugh the House of Representatives one
kfMrs. T. s undergarments, which is known to
the female sex as a skirt. neat little note
from Mrs I. is appended, addressed to the rep
resentatives of the people in general, request
ing each one of them to write his autograph
upon the garment She explains In the note that
1t is her purpose to embroder the names in silk
with view to possessing, when the ornament
is completed an autograph skirt OF the present
congress.
The passage Of this linen affair from desk to
amusement among the congressman, and many
of the more modest of the peoples representa-
tives are anxiously inquiring where this auto
graph fad of the ladies is going to stop. When
the garment reaches the Senate that august
body will probably experience a shock from
which it will take sometime for it to recover.
Far be it from us to ask why these auto
graphs have been collected and preserved in
this interesting but unusual way. We are
quite sure-nothing can persuade US to the
contrary-that the autograph Of great
man is important only In proportion as it
can be referred to and admired by the rev.
erent multitude: but rather would we go
to the stake, and be there consumed in the
slow fire of curiosity, than ask a single
question. Let us perish In our ignorance
ere we pen one line requiring an interroga-
ton point at the terminus thereof.
We observe that the esteemed poet lau-
reate OF the autograph skirt imparts to us
few details He does not tell US whether
any precedence has been given, whether
choice places have been reserved for gentle
men of especial distinction, whether-but,
in fact, he tells us too little and leaves a
great deal too much to the imagination.
We do not know. for instance. whether the
collection is to include all the names OF
both houses of congress, and, if so, what
steps have been taken to get the auto
graphs of distinguished absentees like
Mr.. Hoar, who is now in Europe. We
are firm in the belief, however. that no
autograph SHIRT can be really complete If
any one should be omitted. From the MAJ
jestic Hiscock, the drbiteE eIegdntiqrQul,o of
the Senate, to the humblest little quorum
maker In the House, all should be tucked
away somewhere in that garment.
The very interesting article from which
we have already quoted concludes as fol-
lows:
A general hope is expressed among thestates-
men on the hill that Mrs, t. IS new fad will not
strike the fancy of the rest OF the fad-seekipg
Washington ladies'.
In this patriotic aspiration we enthusi-
astically join, though without much hope
that it will be gratihed. Fads, like rsvolu-
tions, seldom go backward. We should not
be surprised, in fact, to see other aud equally
sentimental female garments utilized for the
collection and perpetuation Of the great
mems autographs. especially at this time,
when a certain famous Philadelphia em-
porihm is sacrificing the supmer article at
prices that put dainty bifurcated auto
graph album with lace insertion and all the
modern improvements within the reach of
the poorest citizen.