St. Paul daily globe., 1894-09-02
I9i
MRS. CUSHMAN X. DAVIS.Ii
IWife of the Senior United States Senate
From M,unalota

[Wife of the Senior United States Senator
From Minnesota.
Among the dress reforms that have
been advocated by professional dress
reformers within the past few years 1t
is doubtful II any of them have as yet
satisfactorily solved the problem OF the
most healthful and comfortable style'0f
dress for women. Take the divided
skirt. Tor example, which has been so
strongly recommended by some 1t las
been pronounced most unsatisfactory
by many of those who have tried 1t. and
yet 1t is the most distinctive reform
that has been proposed; almost the only
Une. indeed, except the abandonment of
corsets and few other changes
which would naturally suggest them
selves to every woman who was con-
scious Of having need of them.
Efforts to reform woman's dress are
by no means an Outgr0wth OF the past few
years, as a great many people seem to
think. Many, many years have passed
away since Mrs. Bloomer designed
that style OF dress for women known
from her as the Bloomer costume. At
it. and lectured upon it, it seemed more
likely of general adoption than any of
the divided skirts or other reforms sug-
gested by the dress ref0rmers of our
own time. But 1t could not be made the
fashion. Notwithstanding that many
earnest, well-drected efforts were made
in that direction. and after occupying a
large share of public attention for a
considerable period it was at length for
gotten. Perhaps similar fate await,
the divided skirt and the other proposed
dress reforms of the present day.
Perhaps the best way in which to
give my answer to your question,
What reforms, If any, are impera-
lively demanded in the present style of
woman's dress?" will be to tell you
how dress myself. Well. first of all,
Twill tell you that have not discarded
the corset that much.abused article Of
feminine wearing apparel against which
the professional dress reformers launch
their severest TRADES. l believe tnat
there are many styles 0f basques with
which 1t Is absolutely necessary that a
corset should be worn to make one at
all presentable. 1t should not bs worn
tight. l think that any woman can
wear loose corset without injury. o.
course, all women wear il loose accord
ing TO their own story. Who ever knew
woman to ADMIT that she ''laced.". or
even that she wore her corset "the
least bit tigh,?" But IL women really
would wear the corsets in sensible
way. do not think they would be iii!
.jured by them. 'sL'
consider garters much more injp-
rious than corsets. and dispense with
them altogether. overcome the neces-
sity for their use by wearing extraordf'
naIily long stockings, which extend all
the way to a, belt about my waist. TO
which they are fastened. l do not bpi
lieve in the stocking supporters SO
strongly advocalediby some. They pull
upon the small of the back, anl thus
are really more injurious than garters.
i wear only one skirt. havo4it and
my corset cover made all in'6fie gar
ment together and cut d la prlntesse.
without sleeves. l discard w0olen uli-
derclOthing entirely and wear nothing
but silk. changing from heavier to
lighter grades. and vice versa, accord
ing to tine changes Of the weather. My
stockings, which are also Of silk, ! have
made to order in varying degrees of
weight and cloSeness Of weave to adapt
them to all changes Of temperature.
1t seems to me that these changes
from Woman'S ordinary apparel, to-
gether with suct other notifications of
it as may seem best in each individual
case. comprise all the reforms demanded
by the tasteful and beautiful garb of
our sex as at present constituted.
Mrs. CUsHMAN K. DAVIS.