The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-13

what they cali cheap under
wear, bat which Is more elegantly re-
ferred e. by the saleswomen as fine lin
gerie.- Whether ii is that the hideous
ofesa reform undergarment is going out of
fashion, and this has brought all these
denominations to the fore, or the shop
Keeper, appreciating that reaction has
set In, has concluded that he had better
get rid of all this old stuff. or what. no.
body exactly knows. but 1t is certain that
some OF the most hideous things are dis
played. and undoubtedly some deluaed
women will buy them. What do / mean
by hideous things? Plating ruffled with
denominations in the shape of Hamburg
edging and overfrilled bits Of clothing
that would ruin the figure OF Venus. real
~ the usual sort of trash that appenr rs
every year about this time and yet which
is always surprise. II is funny how
man-iovely man. faithful man. athletic
Ean-has talked and preached ard had
pictures printed in the newspapers of
what woman should wear. As II he knew,
One group that / saw. which bore the sig
nature of well-known artist. represent
ed as necessary for a woman nine of the
most diabolical garments that the eye OF
the printers devil ever rested upon.
Now, am not reformer but have had
considerable experience and In a toierably
long and rather varied life / have never
met woman who wore nine pieces Of un-
derwear az one time. Starting with the
fact that ones petticoat has a firm foun-
dalton, firm as Plymouth rock and
much better shaped. the average woman
in good health need only wear, first a
somewhat long silk undervest, stockings
OF course, stays. and II he is inclined TO
he chilly and has a tendency toward rheu-
matism, a well-cut and not cumbersome
flannel petticoat. with the one or two
pieces Of nainsook that are displayed in
the shop windows. but which are seldom
talked about. The peftlcoar may be OF
silk. or may be OF moreen but II Ia never
white for street wear. With your heavy
cloth skirt you need stiff moreen petit
coat that II may be properly held on,
there Is no use burdening oneself with a
LOT of unnecessary underwear 20 obligc
the stupid shopkeepers. 4 woman walks
well and easily when she has not got on
a lot OF starchy underwear. and the line
II beauty shows TO much better advan-
tage than when she is overruffied and has
strings and belts cutting ner. because abe
has no stays on and is altogether fiurried
and fat looking.
The human form divine especially the
female edition Of II, does come IN for an
awful lot OF discussion. The line OF
woman's figure Is talked about with the
JUNCTION OF Dumas while any or every
one IS liable to face a picture ~ Venus.
and IL RS quite possible 70 stumble over
her In plaster on the sidewalk. Fancy
wearing such draperies as Venus wore,
Why. you would have to put heavy iron
weights in them which would make them
bang against your knees. and you would
sit on them and he wretehed. and would
find yourself wishing that Venus had
stayed IN .ha sea and been cornf0riab BILE.
But Il ia queer how these people, who
are supposed TO cultivate she mind or
the soul or the brain. or whatever IL the
thinking part OF people are continually
botherinE about a womans frills and
frsvols.
She must be rather nice woman. and
| don't know what induced her to write
10 me but she asked. evidently In all SIN
certify: DO you think skirts Will be
wired this year, or IL / thought "a small
hoopsklrt would obtain. Personally 1
have always dreaded the hOopskirt. I
never wore enc. and ] d0rst believe 1
would ever learn 20 control one 1 feel
sure that ! could never ST. on IL correctly;
that II would fare where II oGght'r 10
and give me a general ridiculous appear
ance Then TOO. as I have very fsrni-
rfre weakness for high heels. / should
probably put M foot in 4. and 'tne fly
ing wor.a n" would describe me as came
down stairs. ] know o man waose favor
tie story is telling pow huge rat got
caught In his FnoiHkr's hoopskift. II Is
A story that STRIKES awe 20 he feminine
heart. though the feminine brain refuses
70 accept IL. and The feminine mind thinks
thar the man IL telling 8 yarn
Fashion wriserS-that II people who
write hisfories of fashion learned people
are prone - say. In describing hoopskIrts.
that they are dsgnifieS in effect. Perhaps
they are. bur TO produce dignihec Ell