The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-05-09
THE RATIONAL DRESS cLus.

Comfortable Attire-rheir Pledge.
The male population of Denver is just
now in a state of daily expectation of
an event which is to revolutionize soci-
ETY., in appearance at least
For some time the men have had a sus-
piciOn that the women had concealed
somewhere about them that unknown
quantity, a divided skirt, in spite of the
fact that their skirts still flow about
them as gracefully and innocently as
though dress reform had never been
heard Of But their suspicious have a
pretty firm foundation A rational dress
club is only awaiting a few last con-
verts to complete it's roll of 100 mem
bers to make it's appearance before the
wondering public. They don't intend to
troop ont in a squad like some new fan
gled army, but they viii put ON their
new reform clothes, and if their cOur-
age holds out go about the duties of
life as though nothing had happened
The models for these reform clothes
are furnished by Mrs. B. o. Flower, the
wife of the editor of The Arena, and
Laura Lee of Philadelphia The costume
consists of boomers and a blouse But
Denver does not intend to be a mere
copyist in point of style, so she has mod
flied the two designs given her by the
east, and her leaders of society viii APP
pear in a s,arb peculiar to themselves.
The skirts are 70 be very full and gath
cred just above the ankle, so that the
folds will fall within five or six inches
of the ground, and they are said TO fol-
low the movements of the legs so grace
fully that it is difficult 30 see much diff
ference from tho conventional skirt
1t is to the enterprise Of the Chicago
Tribune that the early knowledge Of the
4 n i
investigation thoroughly, too, as it-even
gives us the form Of the pledge which
must be signed by those who wish to be
among the hundred One result Of this
movement will be to reduce the long
reigning Four Hundred of the city of
Denver to the One Hundred
The pledge is as follows:
Believing that the health, grace and comfort
of women will be increased by the adoption of
a rational dress for business GGcluding
housekeeping purposes. L the undersigned, in
consideration of ninety-nine go other women
of the city of Denver severalIy pledging and
binding themselves by an agreement similar
to this, do hereby pledge and bind myself and
agree:
First-To provide myself with = costume as
follows: a rational sdress skirt. a comfortable
fitting blouse waist. using whalebone
stfffening of any kind whatever whether in
the form OF a corset. under waist dress
waist); shoes with common sense heels
Second-To wear the same publicly in the
city of Denver commencing at such time after
one hundred GeO women shall have signed this
document, as may be determined by the Colo
RADIO Rational Dress club
Third-To continue to wear the same as a
working. business or street costume for the pc
riod OF at ieastt three months after said date
Fourth-To use my infstnce to induce others
to join the Colorado Rational Dress club
Mrs ]. A. Kilton, wife of a member
of the legislature, is president of the
club, and Miss Clara Irwin is it's secre-
tary Mrs. G. W. Varnunl, wife of a
prominent attorney; Dr.. Mary z. Bates,
Mrs. Helen I. Bates, Mrs. G. W. Belts,
Mrs. Bradley and. 1Irs. Harrington have
already enlisted Other names are kept
secret to add to the surprise in store for
the public
Mrs. Kilton says, ''There will not be
the least bit of immodesty about the
dress, - and she thinks there IS no rea-
son why it cannot be made very attract
i've. In her opinion it is all nonsense
for women to say they cannot help look
ing .slouchy without corsets- She says:
'sThey will simply have to learn to
stand up and walk gracefully Think
of the comfort and ease and cleanlinessl
/ am willing to grant that the sight
will be little peculiar at first, but
when the first impression of strangeness
wears off our genial critics, the men,
will say, We'll done, and God bless
your - Mrs Kilton intends to have ev-
cry one of her dresses-house, street
and evening-made after the new pat
tern Miss Irwin and others will follow
her example.
When the number of signatures re-
quired is complete the idea is to have a
reception, so as to get a little accus-
toned to the new found freedom from
petticOats before venturing on the
streets. There seems to be little doubt
among the women but the Rational
Dress club will be a great success
New York Sun