Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-07-22
LIKE THE SHARK.
why the Tyrant Fashion Is Allowed to
Tyrannize.

why the Tyrant Fashion Il Allowed t
Tyrannize.
aWas there ever SO bewildering a 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 OWL
costly habiliments.
Il don't know, and no one can tell mt
as yet, whether my new frocks should
be trained or to touch the ground or te
clear it. | am only confident Of ONT
thing-they shall not be distended with
horsehair and hoopskirt. l have decided
that much for myself"
MY DEAR" quietly, ''if crinoline had
come in you would wear it. rely upor
your common sense"
"My-I don't understand you. You
surely don't approve of it"
Not of the style. Certainly not. Still
less do | approve of any one person who
refuses to adopt q general fashion. It i:
seryile to follow its dictates blindly and
to extremes. 1t is defiant to stand out
alone against Them
Il don't think / agree with you
should call it courageous"
Suppose, like President Lincoln,
tell you little story. 1t will make my
meaning clearer from experience. an
a 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 81 years
ago arose the last crinoline craze. 1t was
started by Eugenie of France and be.
came universal at once. was little
bride visiting my mother. said to her,
Think how Samuel would exclaim if
appeared in one of those cages. l owe il
to him and to his position that should
not make myself absurd Well, when
| went home Samuel met me at the sta
ton. After how do you do. the very
first words he uttered We're, eagerly:
Have you q hoopskirt? Everybody wears
them"
''Your husband!"
II 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 wish you
would wear bigger bustler"
''As," reflectiyely, 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 the 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 brins.
declared that nothing should induce me
to put on one of those scraps Of tulle or
velvet; that ! should keep to my SEN
sible bonnet if all the rest of the world
went mad. 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 Inc up. |
felt as though were perched up on a
pole for every one to ieer at. ! would
not reefoss my friends threshold until
she had gone out to buy lie one of the
tiny bonnets."
Il comprehend the feeling. l have
been through something like it several
times. Of course no one wants to be
stared at" meekly.
my dear, that is the principal reason
why any vogue spreads like Wiidfre.
No nice woman wishes to be cpnspicu-
Gus. She cannot be, like Lewis CAROLS
famous Shark, ages ahead of the fash
lon, nor yet tagging behind 1t. She
must keep up with the procession of
styles or she is remarked and remark
able. Anything rather than that"
Happily, the opposition was so strong
that she who wore the crinoline was the
noticeable one"
Happily, yes. but ii it had not proved
SO neither you nor |. though among the
most reluctant. would be among the last
to fall into line at the mandate Of Mrs
Grundy." tpTa Hall