Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-04-27
SAVED BY FASHION.
HFE AND LIMB PROTECTED BY THE
FADS OF STYLE.

rail- Collars. High Heels and Turned Up
Trousers Life Savers-A Man Held
Rack From = watery Grave by His
Chimney Pot Hat.
Our dress has often been ridiculed for
its want of beauty. We are told there
is nothing artistic and i'll many cases
little pertaining TO comfort i'll nine
teenth century garments.
Tho habiliment Of some of our CONT
mental neighbors is far superior. both in
elegance and usefulness. to our own, so
il is said. but we do not question this
statement. as it is not our present duty
to pick out the drawbacks of dress
that has satisfied US so long
Ugly rs is our customary mode il has
more than once been the means of saw
ing tho life Of the wearer or been instru-
mental in preventing accidents which
might have proved serious or fatal.
A gentleman wearing a collar of ex-
treme height and rigidity while re-
posing idly on heathery moorland fell
into dose, but reused himself to find
something moving about his neck, and
was Just prevented putting his hand on
the place by companion, who at that
moment glanced mp from his paper.
The troublesome visitor was large
adder, which. coiling its Shiny body
round the gentleman's throat, would
probably have bitten him severely but
for the unusual height of tho linen band
that has been a favorite point of attack
of the dress reformers for an inconceiv-
able period.
BY an adroit movement the friend
caught the reptile behind the head, thus
preventing injury to his hand. The col
lar. however, was impaired in the mo-
mentary struggle, and an ugly stain
was pointed out as the deadly election
of the poisonous fangs.
High heels-those peglike elevations
which we are induced to believe have
caused untold misery TO the feet OF
women Of fashion-have at least one
good service 10 their credit-in saving
the life Of fair mountaineer
This foolish person essayed tho climb
ing of PERCEPTIONS cliffs in French kid
boots. with heels Of the peculiar bell
shape once so fashionable, and on the
present occasion it was well that she
did not wander far from her companions
Her activity, despite tho unsuitable
ity Of her leathern elevations for noun
taineering. was irrepressible, and ven
turing too near the edge Of jutting
rock she slipped. and her frightened
fag,f 0pt fa1 70 hnN nI
10 atoms on the lodges below.
But, mol Tho high heel which had
occasioned her fall became entangled in
the thick brier branches and was suffi-
GENTLY strong TO support the venture
some woman for the few moments until
her friends could obtain firm grip Of
her limbs aud restore her safely 70 tho
mountain path
When examined, the shoe was found
90 DO nearly dismembercd-tho heel
hanging by few rivcts only. An or
binary mountain boot, with fiat,
square heel. would have offered no angle
Of support for the briers. and under 9TH
or than the present circumstances the
climber would certainly have met with
q terrible death.
An incident somewhat similar, but
Of not so dangerous "a character, has
been reported Of young fashionable.
who had occasion 10 ride on tho outside
Of an omnibus through n crowded thor.
ougbfarc.
Leaning over the rails. no overbal.
anced himself and would have been
thrown In the midst Of the traffic but
for tho reason that the bottoms OF his
trousers were turned up in that unrea-
sonable style once more prevalent than
at present with the exquisites Of fashion.
The turned up hem was slung ON the
edge OF the rail. while tho scared youth
dangled. with frantic arms sprawling,
over the windows. with faco as red AS
beet root.
A fellow passenger released him from
above. and no was permitted TO drop
into the arms Of the conductor. A fall
from such an elevation would have
meant dislocated shoulder or broken
leg at least.
What romance or history can be con.
nected with the ugly chimney pot hat?
Yet quite lately one Of these inartistic
creations saved the life Of venture
some gentleman. Strolling beyond high
water mark. no suddenly discovered
himself caught by the tide. and being
hemmcd in by beetling. inaccessible
rocks all means OF escape seemed cut
off.
The water rushed in, and the terri
fled gentleman was taken off his feet,
with not boat in sight 10 render him
deliverance nor person 10 hear his dis
tressed cries. Unable to swim, no would
soon have been drowned but for little
occurrence which proved his salvation
During his struggle the silk hat no
wore was washed off his head, and the
man clutching ut it as the only attain
ablo object was surprised TO find that it
buoyed him up
His arms were clasped, encircling tho
brim, while the top Of the hat, partly
submerged, resisted the water. BY main.
tanning this position he was enabled TO
keep himself a1oat for nearly 8 min
utes. nc tho end Of which time boat
rounded tho cliffs Tho boatman, OBJ
serving him, quickly rescued him from
an inevitable fate. London Tit Bits