Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-11

| ferred hoops arranged ike those of barrel
The most unassuming had their founces iinet
| with sEd muslin and the edges of their gown
with horse hair. and loaded themselves with
four or five starched or cane petticoats. Al
for steel hoops. they were universally worn
Not only were they extremely ugly. but they
| swayed from side to side and some lines. if moi
sufficiently long. the lower part Of the skirt
would fall inward"
Punch turned his batteries loose on the
fashions in crinoiire, ali to no effect. All the
carlcaturists OF the time united against hoops
and hoops fourished like green bay tree ana
grew like the Sourd.
SIGHT FOR GODS AND MES.
By the middle of the nineteenth century
women we're sight for gods and men in their
inflated attire. Several instances are OIL record
where criminals escaped justice by riding
under woman's hoopskir.. In the iirst half
of the sixties, they became monstrosit.es A
noted elocutionist, who was also quite ultra in
Following The fashions, once recited the "Old
Sexton" ut private reception:
Nigh to grave that was newly made
Leaned sexton old on his earth worn spade.
HIS work was done and he paused 10 wait
The funeral train III the open gate.
relict of bygone days wss he,'
ana ms locks were as wnite as the foamy sea;
And these words came from his lips SO thin:
i gather them In. gather them in.
She repeated the last verse with telling
eject, as she God in III the pride OF her amply
hooped gown. Blu. no sooner were the words
out OF her mouth whca wa5 OF a fellow who
was present sprGng up and in excellent iInita-
ton OF her voice and manner recited:
Nigh to a church that was newly made
Stood lady fair and thus she said:
Too bad. too bad! here must wait
While the measure the breadth of this open
gate:
All! tbs only nine by six, see;
tOn a. l..,fF e.
And she sighed from her quvering lips so thin,
4 cannot get In, cannot get in
In 1866, without rhyme or reason, the shadow
OF the hoop began to dwindle until at last the
attenuation o. the tie back was upon US. The
contrast was IudicroUs and each equally ridicu-
ious. The epidemic of Grecian bend and bus
tie broke the harmony OF Liter Years, but not
for long. Then came the era OF free flowing
lines. unhampered legs and arms and emanci-
pation from tight lacIng. Athletic sports and
outdoor exercise brought health and grace of
action, never before more notieeabiy attractive
than now. Then the trail of the serpent began
to drag women down. 1t demanded rich thick
stufis TO make 1t sweep gracefully. Artificial
ala was often necessary, CrInoine began to
creep IN and now-hoops are almost here.
PROTESTS ARE IN VAIN.
Some over-zealous women. John Knox
preachers and sumptuary statesmen are wag-
ing war against the horrid innovation, which
in the light of past history is very funny
indeed. As well IeGisato against the sum
Some have even petitOned the queen. Fun
nier stip. Victoria is fat. She knows that
skirts that fare at the bottom look a lot bet
ter on her than smooth. plain ones that mako
slender, graceful woman look like an angel
whose wings have not sprout>d. She has even
set the seal of her nlajesty's approval upon the
hocp skirt bv wearing one AZ tn princes we'd
ding. After Lent al the angioman acs in the
country Will be swinging and swaying in
hoops
Ii hoops were all of it one might suffer and
endure 10 the end without complaint. but the
architecture OF The age Will have to undergo
INITIATING traEsmos rliicdtion. How many
hooped women will Mrs. Premier DO able 10
have IN her drawing room at ono at
home? What proportion OF pressure will the
Balloon tonnonrs of the women stand and not
burst ut the state receptions at the Executive
Mansion? What is to become OF the bamboo
bric-a-brac and airy ten tables, the stray easels
and litter OF iicht-as-air furniture in the six by
ten drawing rooms OF this twenty five foot
'front.' period when women begin to pose in
hoop sAirts2 And how, oh, how, sweet maid
and modest lover. will it be possible ITO en-
brace opportunities" when criroilne again is
queen! Isabel WoRRELL BALL