The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-07-26

WAS there ever so bewildering a time
before in the change of fashions|'
They had paused in front Of a wide
stretching window wherein a huge waNen
image smirled down upon her own costly
habiliments.
Il don't know. and no one can tell me
as yet whether my new frOcls 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 1 have decided that much for
myself"
my dear" quietly, eff crinoline had
come in you would wear il. L rely upon
your common sense"
My don't understand you. You surely
Not Of the style. Certainly not. Still
less do / approve of any one person who
rerTiIe to f SgliSR ts dictates b9div and
to extremes. 1t is defiant TO stand out
alone against them"
Il don't think 1 agree with you. / should
Suppose. like President Lincoln, 1 tell
you little story. II Will make my mean
ing clearer from experience. l am a good
many years older than you are, and / have
had more experience
You know that my husband is-a shy,
reserved scholar shut up in his books.
He was all that as young man when we
were married. About thirty-five years ago
arose the last crinOline craze. 1t was
started by Eugene of France. and became
universal at once. I was a little bride
visiting my mother. / said to her; Think
now Samuel would exclaim if / appeared
in one Of those cages. l owe IL 10 him
and TO his position that / should not make
myself absurd. wen Wheh Went nome
Samuel met me at the station After a
how DO you do, the very first words he
uttered we're eagerly: Have you hoop
skirt Everybody wears them
Your husband!'
81 don't wonder that you are shocked.
l have learned many lessons since then.
hlf
nous tornures were worn l was not sur
prised as we trotted out together a sober
middle aged couple to have him observe,
Wife, couldn't you-l wish you would wear
a bigger bustle!'
AS" 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
keener to feel it than the women, not
withstanding their satire at our expense.
j remember when small bonnets came into
popularity. 1t after years Of ample
capes and crowns and brims. 1 declared
that nothing should induce me to put on
one Of those scraps OF tulle or velvet; that
I should keep my sensible bonnet if all the
rest of the world went mad. L came to
New York on my way to see a friend in
Brooklyn. 1 reached the city my resolu-
ton mistaken. Before L could get TO the
ferry / wished the earth would open and
swallow me up. / felt as though / were
perched on 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 bOnntes."
Il comprehend the feeling. l have been
through something Ike il several times.
OF course no one wants TO be stared at
meekly.
"My dear, that is the principal reason
why any vogue spreads like wildfre.' No
nice woman wishes TO be conspicuous. She
cannot be, like Lewis Carrolls famous
Shark, ages ahead of the fashion,, nor yet
tagging behind il. She must keep up with
the procession of styles or she is remarked
and remarkable. Anything rather than
thatw
Happily. the opposition was so strong
that she who wore the crinoline was the
/ noitcea Die one"
Happily, yes. but If 1t had not proved so
neither you nor /, though among the most
reluctant, would be among the last to fall
in line at the mandate Of Mrs. Grundy."
RUTH HALL.