The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-04
THE wOMAY OF FASHION.
The Tiny Maid Claims Her Right over
Tucks, etc.

l
Tucks, etc.
We women are beginning TO ray the
penalty OF our greatness, and our plat
form of rights spelled with capital
| r, and our slogans OF up and make
your wants known" We have had a
tremendous success, but we aren't yet
entirely emancipated beyond the instinc-
tion, vanities and foolishness which have
made us beloved through some thousands
Of years of Enlightened life. Fripperies
and follies range alongside philosophy and
physics, EEd when we have finished our
treatise on the trammels of sex we weep
that the dressmakers didn't put half
enough stiffenng I'm the skirt Of the gown
we want to wear when we deliver the
thump3 upon mans irritating pate. We
are Independent thinkers and lead indie
pendent lives until IL comes to a question
OF clothes and then we quaver and trem-
BILE like reeds waiting for a decisive
breeze.
We know what we want, and our new
found powers enable us to weary Heaven
and earth until we get Il. And because
we ought TO know better, because our isms
and osophies have taught us that modera-
ton, economy and simplicity are the
greatest goods, we plunge into excuses
and frivolities, stopping just short OF the
awful ba tarisms OF our grandmothers as
10 steel cages and life destroying ma
chimes.
What we do, our children do. Their
mothers progress has set them ahead a
round dozen of years in the bitternesses
OF existence, and their little brains are
premature together with their little vani-
ties.
They are wiseacres in the cost Of dainty
Dresden figures, and they are far more
bewitching In their conscious picturesque
ness than either you or 1 ever thought Of
being.
Mamma" piped a small voice IN big
shop devoted to the fashions and sup
plies Of children, Mamma, II is positively
necessary that should have that dress"
The voice was weighty with the import
ance OF it's statement. as the seven-year-
old gravely scrutinized a doll as large as
herself clothed in gown which is an
exponent OF the Liliputians' modes.
1t was a faint hint OF an 1880 gown,
such as we older children think ourselves
blest to wear; the finest and whltest Of
muslin entered into its composition in an
intricate manner. I can describe from
memory OF the funny little scene. The
skirt quite concealed the kid-shod feet
Of the envied doll and was most adj
mirably full. Five hounces composed
It TO the waist, which was tucked under
the arms, five founces, each edged with
an inch-wide rufie OF pure white lace.
The waist, what there was OF II, consisted
OF tucked yoke, overlaid with lace, and
wound about bewilderingly with pink
ribbons which ended in rosettes on the
shoulders and between the shoulders be-
hind. over the shoulders fun actual
revers gathered tightly and outstanding
at the most enhancing angle obtainaolel
The big sleeve puff help 10 bulge them
up, while the forearm parts fitted closely
enough 10 the wrist, where white IT'D
gloves lent the last touch OF modish ele-
gance. The hat was a large white leg
horn, pressed upon hempen curls, and
bent in jaunty attitudes White ribbons,
Marguerites and two snowy plumes com
pleted the reproduction OF a costume
which may be seen this summer on
many a maid Of larger growth
The fashions for children nave unuer-
gone a radical change within the past
few months-as radical and along the
same lines as our own. A..
They are revival OF past epochs, the
1890. the Victorian when the childhood
OF the Queen bequeathed us pictures OF
her barred neck and barred arm state.
Tho 1850. when some Of us toddlec about
in long be-trimmed gowns which repre-
scented the faithful labor OF our mothers.
Then. frocks were adorned rather bN
embroiderles than laces and ribbons ana
blended colorings; now we choose hand