The Progress., 1893-10-21
TT
The Abused Skirt.

rsformers. OF the rabid type,
D,r rooed war on the skirt as an inven-
se s.he Evil One that keeps woman
i0nu .;cal mental and moral bondage.
1PD! can be no health, strength, free
lD''' It'll the skirt is modified or
On la from the feminine sphere, is
%'.den of their song. To pin our
i's ~ 20 their teachings, the skirt is a
~ tone about the waist OF woman's
yOgress' e.,,,ors aro nroclaiminq
W." .he bouse-top the things that wo-
l0D' ..rnot accomplish as victim of
n'' oo,ticoat, their theories have re-
n' sound setback by the feats
=, members Of the sex are daily per
.,ng IN SKIRTS. Carmcncita, Loie
w.. and other skirt dancers, have
-;0ced the public by remarkable
'',stious in skirts and drapery, that
~ multitudinous folds Of Sauze' satin
~. -, arc not an impediment to mus
Il, liberty. or airy grace OF limbs
,hodv And now, three marvellous
hats the Misses Franz, who have
.a0ssred to delighted audiences OF a
.oof garden in New York, have
ssAlv strengthened the cause OF the
q, bv achieving the most compli-
-,.d and daring feats of their art in
.im.atting Empire gowns that reached
.ulte to the ankle.
Every supple movement every aston
,A,Dg athletic display was made In
si,,s-and not once was there a tang
v,g.uu. a hindrance or accident that
--,,l,sd from wearing the feminine
.,ment When woman can tread the
-...,res of the intricate and dizzy
,,Dce. and .'gymnasticate" with thrill
!, skill in skirts, the garment cannot
.s,u nbvsical bondage to those whose
reu paths are in the home, or on the
..,set--with rarely fence to scale or a
retoclimbl
The dress reformers may still cry
h0aticallv for trousers, and make guys
themselves Oy adopting bizarre ln-
,ratious of attire, but the abused skirt
has been vindicated to the thoughtful
mind. and will hold its own as woman's
best friend in the wardrobe.
Gladstone, himself, has said that wo-
man Is most perfect when most woman
| i. and, undoubtedly, we lind her most
| edsct In skirts.
In attire. as well as in mind and in
heart. the distinctive and delicate wo-
manly trend is shown, and as long as
Iurze Is in bloom and kissing lasts, the
power Of the petticoat will not totter
| nits throne.
To narrow. the matter to a Climax
keathes there man with soul so dead
sho wishes 10 love or marry carlca
| me Of dress reform-and has not one
| d he sweetest writer's of the age told
| that that ''love is the best thing IN
| ihe word."
To xoo an unsexed creature with
shut hair. divided skirts and the man
nsh skirt and coat, would seem equiva
Rni to Offering the gallant heart anC
hsud TO Tom, Dick, and Harry, or any
4 Nher fellow.
All the world loves a lover, but coult
this lover bring his courage to the
sticking point of whispering swee
,0things in the ear of her who wear'
he puffy Turkish trousers? Could h
ever tell her. with poetic fitness, tha
he was
"All that the blooming earth sen
WITH fair
All that the gaudy heavens showere'
''xn glorious"
men The thought of those trousers I'LL
ahis days with q green and yellow
asancholy?
And, my dear reader, picture a blush
l1g bride approaching the altar in bi
hrcated garb and leggins-think OF
Aaeymoon with no dreams of tea
soFus and womanly frills and frivols-
MY the cruel, unlovely reality Q
turkish trousers and leggins.
We cannot picture tit sets all tn
<s'h Of sentiment on edge, and is a
wnmantic as diet of sour-krout. Th
xft, like the rock of Gibraltar, vii
say. -R
we are firm advocate OF woman,
a'sncement, physically and otherwise
Wy our platform calls only for tn
o'ngs and rights that are womanly.
We leave to man his uEdisturbed pre-
%stve Of voting, swearing and wear
%'he oreeches.
fif
Awav;asc a;rOsrs