Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-12-29
RATIONAL DRESS.
BYLADY COOK, nee TENNESSEE cLAFLIN.

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES EEEEEEEEEEssli y
The souls of the "unco' guild" are
much exercised just now because Of
some recent developments in women's
dress. Female vanity and fondness for
change of attire have at all times sorely
tried their pious spirits. 1t would al
most seem that Providence has specially
provided these crosses for their beho0f,
else where would be the occupation of
that numerous class 'who've naught 10
do but mark and tell their neighbor's
faults and folly" And SO from remote
times, changes of fashions, especially
female fashions, have been the cause
of many prayers and wrestlings, de-
nounced from pulpits, and the butts of
secular SCOTS and ridicule. Some years
ago a handsome, accomplished, and
well-dressed young lady-an intimate
friend Of ours-casually passing the
open door Of rural Bethel about a
mile or two from PenZance, ventured to
enter. Her fashionable appearance in
such a spot caused ageneral sensation.
The Local Preacher" halted in the
midst of his rustic eloquence, and gazed
for a few moments at the lovely vision.
Then thrusting Satan behind him with
one hand, his heart boiling with holy
wrath, he extended the other, and
pointing to the delicate veil which
flowed over her luxuriant tresses, shout
ed in stentorian tones and with an air
of apostolic fervor: Take off that hell
rag If a mere veil could have pro-
duced such a rude outburst Of dissent
ing zeal. what would he have said had
she entered in cycling knickerbockers?
Our young friend left the chapel OF this
latter day Boanerges more rapidly than
she entered 1T, and with the visible SYM
pathy of the surprised congregation
for the Cornish are remarkable for their
gentle and unobtrusive politeness.
Nevertheless. his character as a severe
and fearless denOuncer OF pomps ana
vanfties was thoroughly established
This informer must have numerous
relations in Chicago, for we undersJand
that women are arrested there by the
noIice # thew appear in public in knick-
arhockers And we have many who
would welcome a similar course here.
same newspaper correspondents sug-
oeet If nv saving that if they were 20
s,o obont in their wives clothes they
would he locked up. This is no doubt
+rua Rut then the ladies do not wear
their husbands clothes, but their own
made especially for themselves. Tnere
is no pretence whatever TO pose as
males and no one is deceived as TO Their
COW therefore. the whole question re-
sclvas itself into one Of taste and con-
,,o,iance. IF a woman feels that she can
cvcIe with less danger and more ease
,Tyitbout a skirt than with one. what
moral right has any one 70 interfere
ca long as she preserves her sex as
tinct.on? How would men be compell-
cd TO run and ride in petticoats? Or
why should women be denied the iree
plav of their limbs, or even the admlra-
tion due to a well-turned pair? AS
Robert Burns wrote on THE Rights OF
Women
For right the third, our last, our best
our dearest,
That right to fiuttering female near's
the nearest,
Which even the rights Of kings in low
prostration
Mus4 humbly own-'tis dear, dear ad-
miration"
It is urged that it is indecency for
women to sit astride. We ask, Why?
Until good Queen Anne" introduced
the side-saddle, the women Of England
always rode horseback astride like the
men. as the women of many countries
do to the present day. PhysiologicallE
considered. perhaps it would be filter,
if a distinction must be made, for men
to use side saddles and women the
others. 1t is nonsense to connect i'm
morality with either mode, as it is SIM
ply matter Of custom, and when the
novelty OF seeing a woman astride has
worn off, time will sanction both it
and kniekerbockers, as it has sanction
ed so many other things.
1t is somewhat amusing, however, to
hear women who appear at public func-
lions in the most decollette Manner