The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-13
WHAT THE AVERAGE WOMAN IN
HEALTH NEED WEAR.
GARMENTS SUITED TO OUR CIVILIZATION
Such as Venus Wore viii Not Do A Cues
lion as 10 Whether Skirts VIII be
Wired. Some Other Matters
of lntoracf
of interest.
Copyright, 1881

with the most remarkable of white gar
ments, while the newspapers are filled
with advertisements of what they call
cheap underwear" but which is more
elegantly referred to by the saleswomen
as fine lingerie" Whether it is that the
hideous dress reform undergarment is
going ont of fashion, and this has
brought all these abOmina tons to the
fone, or the shopkeeper, appreciating
that Il reaction has set in, has concluded
that he had better get rid of all this old
stuff, or what nobody exactly knows,
but it is certain that some of the most
hideous things are displayed, and I'M
doubtedly some delude1 women will
buy them. What do | mean by hideous
things? PlaitingS rufhed with abOmi.
nations in the shape of Hamburg edg-
ings and overfrile. bits of clothing
that would ruin the figure of Venus,
really the usual sort of trash that APP
pears every year about this time and yet
which is always a surprise. 1t is funny
how man--lovely man, faithful man.
athletic dnan--haS talked and preached
and had pictures printed in the news
papers of what women should wear. As
if he knew One group that | saw
which bore the signature of a we'll
kown artist represented as necessary for
q woman nine out of the most dia-
bolieal garments that the eye of the
printers devil ever rested upon. Now, |
am not Il reformer, but | have had con-.
siderable experience, and in a tolerably
long and varied life | have never met
a woman who wore nine pieces of UNI
derwear at one time. Starting with the
fact that ones petticoat has firm
foundation. AIS firm as Plymouth rock
and much better shaped, the average
woman in good health need only wear.
first. Il somewhat hong silk undervest,
stockings. of course, stays, and, if she
is inclined to be chilly, and has ten
dency toward rheumatism, 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
petticoat may be of silk, or may be of
moreen hut it is never white for street
wear. With your heavy cloth skirt
Won need a stiff moreen petticoat, that
it may he properly held out, but there
is no use hurdening oneself with lot
Of AInB eepsslTy Underwent tosolllige the
SIuibfu Sutibhte'lltIS. "a NOHIiH NsllkS
well and easily when she has not got
on a lot OF starchy underwear, and the
line of beauty shows to much better adj
vantage than when she is oyeITuffled
and has strings and belts cutting her.
because she has no stays on. and is al
together Hurried and fiat looking.
The human form divine, specially the
female edition of it, does come in for
Il lot Nf
II woman's figure is talked about with
the junction. of Dumas. while any or
every where one is liable to face pie
ture OF Venus. and it is quite possible TO
stumble over her in plaster on the side
walk. 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
be wretched and would find yourself
wishing that Venus had staid in the sea
and been comfortable. But it is queer
how these people, who are supposed
to cultivate the mind, or the soul, or
the brain, or whatever is the thinking
part of people, are continually bother;iig
about "a woman's frills and frivols.
She must be rather a nice woman, and
/ don't know what induced her 20 write
to me, but she asked, evidently in al
sincerity: do You think skirts win he
wired this year, or il / thought small
hoopskirt would obtain. Personally L
have always dreaded the hoopskirt. /
never wore one, and | don't believe
would ever learn to control one. / feel
sure that | could never sit on it cor
rectly; THAT it would fare where it
oughtn't to and give me generally ride
ulous appearance. Then, too, as ] have
a very. feminine weakness for high
Heels, / should probably put my foot in
it. and "the flying women" would de-
scribe me as | came down stairs. |
know a man whose fayorte story IL
telling how huge rat got caught in his
mothers hoopskirt. 1t is a story that
strikes awe to the feminine heart, though
the feminine brain refuses 70 accept 1t,
and the feminine mind thinks that The
man is telling yarn.
Fashion writers-that is, people who
write histories of fashion, learned peo-
ple-are prone to say, in describing
hoopskirts, that they are dignified in eff
feet. Perhaps they are, but to produce
a dignified effect in one "a woman of
about six feet would be required. No.
| may tell the pleasant little woman
who wrote that / do not think wires
or hopskirts will be worn. Women
have been looking too well lately to
care to make any great change in theil
appearance. The cloth skirt fitting the
figure evenly and easily and the hand
somely trimmed bodice make not only
a smart get up, but one that is useful.
The reason | like the tail0r-made fr0ck
is that | believe it to be an incentive
10 cleanliness. Any girl who wears one
likes TO have her skin look as white
rs possible her hair as tidy, and. know
ing that her boots show as she walks
she does not permit an moccupied but
tonhole, nor is she satisfied with n bro
ken lace tied into knot. She IL Darti-
cular about her gloves. and if she wears
any white linen it it. immaculate. Fash
ions may come and fashions NAV 90.
but the wise woman will retain a smart
booking cloth gown for street wear be-