The Washington times., 1895-03-24

Dg appearing IN rluIculOus costumes.
Mrs. Mayer. wife of Mr.. Alfred Mayer.
of the Bon Marche. was found at her pretty
little home on Massachusetts avenue
She is petite brunette. This topic, she
said, was one in which she has never
taken any interest, for she was perfectly
well satisfied with the present styles in
dress and would continue TO follow the
fashions which she thought pretty and
healthful.
''of course she continued, tight lac
ing is wrong and injurious 10 any woman.
And such thing cannot fail To ruin anyone's
health. But if a corset is worn comforta-
bly, it is not in the least hurtful to anyone.
Instead Of its being done away with, L
think it is each day growing in popularity.
and each year they are put on children at
an earlier age. Formerly girl must be
fourteen or fifteen before she wore one,
but now the smallest children have tiny
waist that are corsets in a modified
form. for they are fashioned of little stays in
q stiff bodice.
Certainly. in the face of such facts. no
one could truthfully say that the era of the
corset is dying ont, for there rs ample proof
that the use OF the corset is growing and
becoming more general each year. And /
think, as il is a good thing If rightly used,
that this fact is not TO be regretted in
the least. On the contrary, as an article
that is almost indispensable to women, it
ought TO retain its hold"
Mrs. w. B. Moses was at her handsome
home Oh Rhode Island avenue when the
visitor called. and was not averse to ex
pressing her opinion on the much discussed
topic. A woman of decided views, she
gives them in a clear way that shows that
her views are as definite as her manner of
expressing them, which is in good style
and in forcibe way that reminds one of
the prominent ladies who took so con-
spicuoas part in the meetings of the ooun-
ell held in town few weeks ago.
Il do not like this idea for the reason
that woman should always look trim
and not have a gown TO hang in slovenly
lines abouther figure, even in her own home,
for a wcman's greatest charm is her
neatness, and every woman should try and
look her best, not by artificial means,
such as paint and powder, which are any
thing but attractive on q lady's face,
but 10y careful attention 10 the neatness
OF her person aud the becoming grace of her
gown. The costumes designed by the
dress reformers have not the best of recon-
mendations, for in doing away with the
corset they leave woman without what
she needs most-somethiDg 10 preserve
the natural outlines OF her figure.
For those women who are not blessed by
nature with good figures il may be very well
10 conceal them in the Empire and Princess
gowns, bIt forthe women y hO have no re ason
10 be ashamed OF their figures there is no
need TO adopt something which cannot be
becoming.
THE present styles are pretty and health
ful, and if one would use their comnonsense
would be as confOrableas any womancould
wish. But most OF our sex are extremists.
and never do a thing in moderation. ! am
a strong advocate OF woman's rights and
believe that woman, who pays her taxes,
should have the same rights as a man
citizen, and I think that She aas equally as
much capacity for business, though she has
not until lately had fair chance to show
her ability
Mrs. W II. Gait has been quite an invalid
or late. blt she was we'll enough to tell her
caller what she thought about dress reform,
and she had studied up The subject very
thoroughly
4 think that this movement VIII Ger.
tainly become common in q few years ow-
ing TO the fact that the children IN many
or cur best schools are being impressed
with its 5mportance-ani Importance that can
not be OYerestimajed. Most OF the teach
eTs in the singing and elocution classes in
sist that the pupils shall scard their
corsets. as they ara a dra wback TO the free
use OF their muscles necessary to a proper
performance Of those arts.
Il believe that the waist OF the new
woman or rather, / should say, the
coming girl. VII be free from all restraints
and that she will be a healthy and strong
woman-strOng in mind and body, and an
immense Improvement on US OF to-day.
IL the corset interferes with the freedom
OF one who wishes to sing or recite il is
self-evident fact that il is Lot healthy for
ordinary wear. There is 10 doubt that
this unnatural restraint VIII soon become
a thing OF the past, and i is tie duty OF
every mother to raise her children free
from its influence, TO bring them up as
healthy in body snd mind as is in her power.
''BloomeTs / do not approve Of, for
Shey border on the masculine, and nothing
is pretty or becoming in a womans dress
if il initiate mans clothing. Woman can
dress in the models left Us by the Greeks,
which are beautiful and healthful and
graceful. and she need never think that
she VIII appear to an advantage in any
thing but gowns that are trJly feminine -
Mrs. Strasburger, wife OF Mfr. Myer
Strasburger, OF the Family Shoe Store,
lives in a sweet homo, and is the proud
mother Of several pretty children. She
is dark, and dresses in the fashionable
styles, betrayiBg no sign of reform in her
neat atcurves. When asked es tC her opinion,
she smiled and replied that Size was very
=
cut at present.
Il do not see any need or a reform in
dress, - She continued, nor do l believe
that any viii become general. The present
mode of dressing is very graceful a0d equally
as hcalthful. ard I am sure that ! never
saw The girls look any prettiar than they
dc Row. As for the corset. it is certainly
an Improvement to any figure, though itcan,
like everything else, be 3besed very greatly.
Yet if worn rightly, il is more OF a support
than q restraint as most people consider it.
TIE empire style is not suitable for anyone
except young gin.
Il think that every one ought 70 exer-
else their own judgment in such things. and
/ can say for myself that / have no wish to
change my mode Of dress, for / think ii is
too pretty to be improved upon and believe
that the majority Of ladies are OF the same
opinion
Ii is quite evident from the foregoing that
dress reform has obtained little hold among
the representative women of Washington's
resident population.
-~1 p
The Tuscan Peasant
In Tuscany you win often find peasants
whose families have been on the same
farm for 200 or 800 years. They talk
Of themselves as genie (the Roman gens)
OF the padrone dandlordl, an1 take an af-
fectionate interest in him and his family.
Bat the Tuscan peasant is a thorough con-
serTative; he has not yet grasped the
changes brought about By railroads, steam
boats and International communication
He hankers after a large extent Of land
on which To grow wheat enough to provide
bread for the whole year, and is inclined
TO regard other crops as accessories.
With the actual low price of corn this