The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-27

g = ALE the feminine world fuses
~ about pockets ard the otnsf
II half about packets. Tie fash
ionable dressmakers, male OF
u = female. win not put pocket IN
a skirt a. all. They say II alters the set OK
the garment. The questionable dress
makers do put pockets in. bat they are usu-
ally So beautifully hidden that 1t would
puzzle Philadelphia lawyer TO find the re-
ceptacle. To see lady try 70 get into her
pocket TO find cents FOR car conductor
puts to flight all ideas Of grace or beauty
that might attach themselves to the attire
Of our times. She cannot get to her pocket
sitting down; that's sure. Up she must
stand. planting her feet wide apart to
steady herself In the jerky motor or cable
car. and there tumble and grumble until
the pocket Is reached and the nickel handed
the waiting conductor.
II fashion decree las she has for so many
years. that our skirts be 80 scant that We
| may not have a pocket. save ii the rear.
why can't the dressmaker sew a fiat pocket
| on the outside OF our gowns. pocket IN
which we could place purse and hand
| kerch.ef within hailing distance Of our
hands? Mems pockets are put where they
| can be used; why must wcmen's be out OF
| sight? Is there any disgrace In pockets?
| As long as women have noses. and I'm sure
| I hope no inventor will project the noseless
| girl upon the public as long as shall -four
! ish on this earth, We must have pocket
| handkerchiefs, ergo We must have pockets
| I should like to start a dress movement
| right now in favor Of the visible pocket and
| on my banner iuscribe: This banner shall
| wave, on her so brave, who dares her
! pocket to show. We mothers OF men, vita
| voice and pen, for comfort strike this
! blow" To, be sure, We came into the world
| without pocket. but that's no reason why
We should live without one
| And packets. or vents, or whatever name
! you may please 10 call that opening
| through which We put our heads, that ne
| cessary evil Of woman's gown. Al last
| the tragedy, always more or less imminent
| concerning the placket hole, is disposed OF
| and every woman who cannot remember 70
| hook this opening in her skirt should have
! her petticoats cut on the new tailor mode:
| that Is TO say. with the placket hole but
| toned securely UP. According to the high
| est authorities In skirt topography, the OPP
ening in the garment should be made in
| front and little TO the right side, just
] where the seam Of the front width runs up
| This leaves the back OF the skirt to be
shaped fashionahly plain or pleated in a
| little, and innocent Of any rear opening at
| all. This change OF base for the placket
| has come about by reason of the new mode
| or gove-fitting the tops OF all skirts. and
| the packets location in front Is neatly con-
| cealed by a short row of small ornamental
| buttons or a careful adjustment Of braid
lines Probably never before in the history
| Of dressmaking have skirts been so scant
as this year. They simply have no fuilness
at all save a slight spreading effect in the
rear and below the knees.
| Candor compels the admission that
| Frenchy and striking as this mode may be.
it does not enlarge the reputation of the
| feminine sex for beauty OF form. Just
| about one woman in 800 can wear this new
| skirt and rejoice the eyes of the onlooker;
the other 299 will be trial to their
| friends, for she who is the least bit too
broad In the beam and she who has been
| given by Providence japanese hips
cannot profit by this novel and
severe cut. In wearing this sheath
like skirt the true inwardness of the
| human form divine Is bound to come out.
| And now, while We are talking about wo-
| mems wear. what do you think about the
| new style Of fastening my ladys gown?
When first saw a fashion plate Of these
gowns fastening all the way up the back
with big buttons. did not know whether
the ladies We're advancing or retreatng.
| With the abundance OF hair round the
| face, the flatness IN front produced by the
fit Of the new very low cut French corset.
| and the array of buttons. could not tell
which was the back and which was the
| front OF the lady. Finally I dug out two
| eyes anu Il nose III lace lIOui It's diiiDuSIA
| of hair, and then l knew that Dame Fash
ION had decreed that we should so back TO
the days of our youth and go round the
| house begging TO be fastened up in the
| back. l asked my dressmaker yesterday
what We Seattle people would do who only
kept one servant, and that a Chinaman.
| about this button.ng in the back. ''Oh! call
him up, and II he doesn't understand En-
glish very well. turn your back to him. He
will know enough to button you up.''
1t really is too hard on a great many
! women that the edict has been issued that
hips must and shall be suppressed. Some
| stout women who can afford the s25 corset
that is warranted not to break under strain
or pressure may be able to suppress an
inch or two OF breadth. but what will the
| great majority of stout women do. who
| can't afford the SIS corset? Alas! ana
alas. that some modern Shylock cannot
arise TO cut away the pound OF flesh with
out splitting the blood.
A year or so ago they accented our
shoulders. We broadened and doomed
across the back. until II seemed probable
that architecture would have to be altered
to widen doors and windows. that the full
sleeved woman might go in. or look out un-
disturbed The broad effect was done, and
| oyerdone. Now the dress makers have be-
| gun to pinch our arms In sleeves tight
that our hands are as red and bloated as
| those or brtcklayer. we might stand
| these frightened sleeves. but I do wonder
what we will develop In new diseases II we
really are willing and able TO suppress the
hips? We should remember where our
stomach, that avenue TO our self-preserva-
| ton lies. where most terrible results Nigh,
follow this suppression Of the hips. Let
| us for the sake OF the here and the here
| after hope that this edict Is only an autumn
| fad. and that az winter comes on with the
| necessity for heavy outside garments
women will be sensible enough Tor loosen
! their stays, and not consent to hang their
underskir;s from straps in the useless ef-
| fort TO suppress the hips" For ages art
| lists have called the Milo Venus the most
! beautiful ard lovable type Of woman. Shade
| OF the great prototype OF motherhood and
| physical. forclble. beauty, assist the way
| ering and warn :he weak.
| see that my whole column Is abou. very
| womaniy matters, and now must say this
| 20 the boys: Boys. when you feel bibu!ous
think OF Chaplain McIntyre's late expe-