The Washington times., 1895-03-03
IT WAS ONLY FOR WOMEN
Continued from FIRST page,

gown, and 1t must he confessed that there
is little If anything to be said against it.
1t must speak for itself in the subJoined
cut of the back view. The front is in V
shape of velvet, falling over a gimp of
garnet silk and full sleeves of the same.
Like all these gowns it laces in the back A
petticoat, Indispensable to wear with such
garments, was greatly recommended and
looks as if it might be very comfortable.
Miss Julia Pauline Leavens, with her
majestic figure art draped, told the audience
all she knew about dress, and good-na-
turedly turned around and around, an
swered questions, gave much useful in
formation, and entertained the audience
generally. She wears some Empire gowns
which are pretty, but a street gown which
she exhibited cannot fall under that class
it was very ugly and not becoming TO Miss
Leavens, however useful it might be. 1t
was of gray cloth, a gored skirt attached
to percaline waist, a white India silk
kerchief folded over the bosom, and a sort
of REFER coat, gray also, which fell below
the knee, and was held together in front by
gray silk girdle just under the bosom.
1T WAS HONOR BRIGHT.
Miss Seavey, of Boston, first appeared
in black princess gown, which fitted so
asked:
Honor bright, Miss Seavey, corset or
no corset?"
well, yes, Delsarte corset"
No getting around it. She had on
corset, and every woman in the audience
knew it.
She afterward appeared in her bicycle
habit, which really seems to be thing of
art in the everlasting fitness of things. Not
pretty, of course, but suitable, useful, and
Infinitely better than the garments with
rx,l,y1 n. oil ~ r,Ia.-c ffnr
usually hidden charms.
Mrs Strickland almost electrified the
audience when she announced that she
didn't wear stockings"
bad as Jerry Simpson," some one
whispered in the crowd.
She went on to explain, however, that
she covered her feet with half-hose, which
she procured at a mans furnishing store.
OF course combination tights keep them
in place, and spring -heeled shoes make
her feet very comfortable
From 8 O'Clock till long after 8 the
room was crowded; women stood for
hours, some perched on the window sills
or leaned up against the wall, or against
each other, and at least a score squatted
on the floor Turkish fashion, and pa
tiently, and even anXiously, listened to
the women who so kindly talked TO them
on dress reform.
Had the question been one of the most
vital Importance, more interest could not
have been shown, and too much cannot be
said in praise OF the ladies who lent their
services, posed, and dressed and talked for
the entertainment and instruction OF the
audience. Each speaker was, in turn,
Piled with leading questions, often home
thrusts, but they were gentle, good hu-
mored, patient, and uDtiring. One thing
is very certain, had the live pictures who
posed for the women at MetZerott's been
garbed in the conventional costume, the
audience would have grown impatient
whilst they robed and disrObed, and the
living pictures would have been in a state
of exhaustion before the performance
was over.
There can be no doubt but that the ques-
tion of dress reform viii agitate the female
mind in the near future to a great extent,
and it is sincerely to be hoped that not only
artists, but practical, fashionable society
women will take a hand in the game and
help to mould the fashions so that un-
artistic people viii not be shocked, and
women who want beauty and utility
combined viii secure at once a modest
costume and q comfortable gown.