The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-09-06
LIKE THE SHARK.
Why the Tyrant Fashion Is Allowed to
Tyrannixe.

Tyrannixe.
WAS there ever so bewildering time
before in the change of fashions?'
They had paused in front of wide
stretching window wherein huge wax
en- image smirked down upon her own
costly habiliments.
81 don't know, and no one can tell me
BIS yet, whether my new frocks should
be trained or to touch the ground or to
clear it. am only confident of one
thing-they shall not be distended with
horsehair and hoopskirt. have decided
that much for myself"
MY DEAR" quietly, eff crinoline had
come in you would wear it. I rely upon
your common sense"
"My-I don't understand you. You
surely don't approve of it,"
mot of the style. Certainly not. Still
less do approve of any one person who
refuses to adopt general fashion. 1t is
servile to follow its dictates blindly and
to extremes. 1t is defiant to stand out
alone against them"
~ don't think agree with you. I
should call it courageous"
Suppose, like President Lincoln, /
tell You a little story. 1t will make my
meaning clearer from experience. am
good many years older than you are,
and have had more experience"
"You know what my husband is-a
shy, reserved scholar, shut up in his
books. He was all that as young man
when we were married. About 80 years
ago arose the last crinoline craze. 1t was
started by Eugene of France and be-
came universal at once. 1 was little
bride visiting my mother. said to her:
Think how Samuel would exclaim if I
appeared in one of those cages. owe it
to him and to his position that 1 should
not make myself absurd Well, when
went home Samuel met me ut the sta
ton. After how do you do, the very
first words he uttered were, eagerly;
Have you hoopskirt? Every body wears
them.'"
"Your husband"
~ don't wonder that you are shocked.
have learned many lessons since then.
So that six years ago when those enor-
nous tournures were worn was not
surprised as we trotted out together a
sober middle aged couple to have him
observe, Wife, couldn't you'll wishy you
would wear bigger bustler"
CAS-" refectively, "my husband laugh
ed me out of adopting hygienic clothing,
though he is doctor. He said, You
want to look like other women"
"Ah, there is the kernel of the whole
question. We do. And men are even
keener to feel it than tho women, not,
withstanding their satire at our expense.
remember when small bonnets came
into popularity. 1t was after years OF
ample capes and crowns and brims. ]
declared that nothing should induce me
to put on one of those scraps of tullo OF
velvet; that should keep to my SEN
siblo bonnet if all the rest of the world
went mad. I came to New York on my
way to see friend in Brooklyn. Preached
the city my resolution mistaken. Be.
fore could get to the ferry wished the
earth would open and swallow me up. ]
felt as though were perched up OH q
pole for every one to jeer at. would
not recross my friends threshold until
she had gone out to buy me one of the
tiny bonnets."
II comprehend the feeling. l have
been through something like it several
oiiiiNo. VI Couiso ito ollo WuHLS 10 DE
stared at" meekly.
"My dear, that is the principal reason
why any vogue spreads like wildfre.
No nice woman wishes to DO conspicu.
ous She cannot be. like Lewis CAROLS
famous Shark, ages ahead of the fash.
ion,' nor yet tagging behind it. She
must keep up with the procession OF
styles or she is remarked and remark.
able. Anything rather than thatr'
Happily, the opposition was SO strong
that she who wore the crinoline was the
noticeable one"
Happily, yes, but if it had not proved
so neither you nor 1, though among the
most reluctant, would be among the last
to fall into line at the mandate of Mrs
Grundy." RUTH HALL