Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-12-04
BEAUTY AND DRESS REFORM.
New forks Rainy Day Club Discusses
Woman's Right tn be Ugly.

New FORKS Rainy Day Club Discusses
Voman's Right to BE Ugly
New York, December ga Wo-
mans Right to be Ugly" was one of
the subjects considered by the Rainy
Day Club at its first meeting in its
new headquarters. Mrs. Celia B.
Whitehead was the essayist. 1.-THE
saying that there are many men OF
many minds applies equally to women
sne said, after few preliminary re-
marks 1t is true that no two women
agree, but let us see how far we can
30 together. 1t is an indisputable
Iact that women are dissatisfied with
the Clothing imposed upon them by
the fashion in civilized countries
MRS. Whitehead told the Rainy Day
CLUB that dress should be at first use
Iul, and if it was only carefully adapt
cd to the purpose for which it was in
tended, beauty would be sure to fol-
low. To show the connection between
the title and sentiment of her paper
she read extracts of the tale of
Beauty and the Beast. "The beast"
SAS SOhllAuOu, WOulu HCNCI nave UC-
come beautiful if he had not first been
accepted because Of his goodness. So
1t is my firm belief that woman's dress
will never be beautiful until it is loved
and accepted for it's intrinsic merit
But has woman a right to be ugly?
Is beauty her transcendent duty? And
is beauty matter of dress? | remem-
Der hearing J. G. Holland say that no
wife should ever allow any woman to
appear better dressed IN her husband S
eyes than herself. What an ignoble
scramble Mr.. Holland would get wo-
men into. The inference did not
seem to be that the wife should drive
all other women out of her husband
sight, but that she herself should de-
vote her energies to the task OF dress
ing so we'll that no woman could
dress better. Think of the awful
strain on each woman!
II remember Judge Albion Tourgee's
laying great stress on the necessity OF
greater care of the personal adorn-
ment of women and its influence upon
the charm of her presence, of which
grace of manner and personal adorn-
ment were the chief ingredients. Much
of this sentiment is heard in the
Rainy Day Club. l firmly believe in
womans right to be ugly at certain
times and places. under certain cir
cumstances and for certain purposes.
at is said that the Mohammedans
do not believe that women are born
with souls, but it is possible, if they
make themselves pleasing, that the
men may bestow souls upon them.
Doesn't Judge Tourgee, in his re-
marks, coincide with the Oriental be-
lief? Does he give hint of a soul?
This thought of woman as just body,
without referenc g to her heart or
mind, is, | believe, at the root of this
insistence that she be adorned. Please
do not misunderstood me. We all
agree as to the desirability of beauty
in dress. What I wish to make clear
is that this emphasis laid on that point
defeats itself. Suppose Abraham Lin
coins influence had been, first of all,
for grace Of manner and personal
adornment, or that of any great man
ar woman Do you not see what be-
lifting effect it would have?
81 have no idea of behttling dress.
1t is not that I love a beautiful dress
less, but love women more. Let wo-
man devise dress that will not hinder
her from becoming strong, wise, grand
and good, and let it be ever SO much
of a Beast at first. Beauty will finally
marry it, and they will live happily
ever after"