The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-24


or gambling, or slang. or bicycles, Or
any other vice. The shirt-waist origi-
nally started as a shirt, pure aud simple.
1t was worn by the tailOr-made girl Win
q well-cut skirt and Jaunty jacket
Then somebody. who knew its comfort
and thought nothing OF its effect, put in
fun sleeves. made IL a little closer-hlting.
and wore il with a skirt aud without
coat. and the consequence is that some
OF the Misunderstanding skirts that were
ever created or ever insulted a good
dress-maker by their appearance, at
tached themselves unto shirt-waists. and
each wearer Of the combination counts
herself dressed.
The impression when one looks al n
New-York street, on which women most
DO cOngregate, is lot Of boys who
haven't pulled their shirts down well.
who arc wearing. not trouacr. nor knee
brccchcs, but some fool sort OF an ar
rangcmont that IS not well shaped. That
is the skirt. The shirt-wcarer never
studies her mirror below the belt. and,
as long as tho stiff satin bow az her
neck looks well. and her belt IS taut.
she gives no thought to "the old skirt"
as she calls n. Mis-cut skirts. mis-ht
skirts. half-wOrn skirts, hadly-hung
skirts. and all sorts and conditions OF
skirts are counted proper as long as the
shirtwaist ia above them. Just between
yOu and me, 1 some times wonder, when
I look at a woman ~ a shirt-waist that
there doesn't come over her a sensation
OF nudcncss for that IS the kind ~ feel
ing that would attack a man II he took
on his coat ana waistcOat. and pranccd
around during the day in his shirt
sleeves. after the parlance OF mascu-
Unity Then too. the shirt-waist IS a
fraud. All the people who sell them, or
make them. or wear them. dilate on
their GOODNESS. This GOODNESS might be
truth if 10 We're no< FOR the fact that the
shirt-waist Is surmounted 10y collar.
in stiffness like unto the starcheft OF the
staIchr, and finished az the wrista by
cuffs that are not only stiff, but require
cuff-buttons There is no joy IN lie when
a woman has TO put pair Of cuff-but-
tons IN pair Of cuffs. The chances arc
ten TO one That the link
goes through the first buttonhole
with ease. but through the second
it viii not -. II slips it slides. ano
ii cuts your niger Then all that you can
do, il you wish 10 unite that cum and that
link is to siuk your dignity, and. with an
air OF subJection lick the back OF that
buttonhOle until it bends to your will.
THE SHIRT-WATST.
lovely woman has shown how extensive
her knowledge is 10y conqucrng that. She
does not break her hnger-nails over a
c0liar-buttOn. not she. She cOOlly takes q
small glOve-buttOncr, and. quicker than a
magician can say, Hey, Presto. the
union is achieved The shirt-waist Is de-
morallzing. With IT, tho average woman
wears a made tie. which shows that size
has 10 appreciation OF what Is really
good form. from the standpoint Of tte
haberlashor. Then. nine times ont Of
ten. the girl who wears her shirt-waist
carries her gloves. ] don't know why.
but do know that this lack OF trimness
IS due TO the influence Of the peculiar
article Of wcarine-apparel that covers her
above the belt And, gracious, goodness
look at the belt. IL may be narrow, or
II may be wide: It may have plated
buckle. that came form a chcap-JoIn
shop or a gold one that came from
Tffany's. but there is certain type Of
( girl. wearing a shirt-waist. VINO is going
10 make that belt cover - inches. and
70 inches only. or die IN the att mpt.
She doesn't die, but she gets an awfully-
red face: and, as for her temper-woll.
/ her temper is usually 12o. Fahrenheit The
other type OF girl wearing l1elts and
shirt-waists. don't care whether the belt
I goes over a margin Of 20 inches. or
whether II enclOscs forty-twO inches
waist band These are the people VITO
are looking for comfort. Usually their
skirts sag, and droop from lnder the
loose belt, so that the world At large
, knows whether the skirt Is gathered on
10 a band plated on TO II, or. as man
explained II. arranged I'm those fur ny
rolls like sausages," and by this he meant
godets.
MEN VERY IGNORANT
Men are very igonrant. but they 10 not
wear shirt-wasts. Some vices are too
mean. even for men.
The shirt-waist girl Is never satisfied.
She IS accumulative. When she has thi &c
shirt waists she wants six. and when
she gets six. she yearns for twelve. 4
fabric represents nothing 90 her except
its possibilities in the shiri-waist line.
and in n shop she stands staring az n
bit Of cotton. trying Ia see II made MP.
and deciding whether its collar ought %
be white or OF the same material. Sire is
reckless In buying belts and ties. Tut she
will wear one skirt all summer. II may
FRAY around the bottom. II may r. rrde-
sirable i'm every way but II II * men
toned at all. II gives her n chance TO Gi-
late on her economy I'm wearing C-t her
old skirt, making It useful by the inter
yention OF the shirt waist. ANYTHING that
n woman wears which gives her a semi
loose appearance, always makes her n
little easier In language. II would ie i'm
| possible for q girl In a summer silk. Tede
after the fashion OF one worn by Marie
Antoinette. apd having o large lat. say