Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1899-11-14
PASSED kWAY.
why the Wrapper Is No Longer
Worn by Women of Fashion.

why Vu0 wrapper ~ NO Longer
Worn by Women Of Fashion.
The passing of the wrapper is o
change in the dress Of woman that has
more than a modish significance. IL
has bearing as well on many other
aspects of American femiaity. The
wrapper was the sweeping symbol Of
home relaxation and comfort not many
years ago. Its pleasures were not al.
ways to be enjoyed only in the midst
of the family circle. Sufficiently or.
pate, it could appear before strangers.
and that period was long in advance
OF the teagown. The wrapper passed
beyond its domestic limirs, and carried
its suggestion of freedom from stays
and conventional garb into wider
spheres. 1t appeared on the piazZas OF
summer hotels in the eighties, and was
the accepted breakfast toilet for the
head of the most formal family and
the other women of the house. The
vogue OF the wrapper in those days
was not connected with any lack Of
worldly knowledge or unwillingness
to learn the best mode and abide by it.
The garment needed no apology. In
towns outside OF New York its useful
ness was more extended. Shopping in
a wrapper was no violation of West
ern and Southern proprieties then IL
the weather happened to be warm
enough for the convenience OF the
wearers. Materials in those past ages
were not as important as they came
TO be. Richness was not necessary to
excuse the wrapper. Its folds no more
violated the correct ideas OF things be-
cause they hung in calico and lawn
than if their substance were damask.
Cherished for its comfort and accepted
as a fashion. II seems incomprehensi-
BILE that the wrapper should have dis
appeared so completely. But 1t has
gone. When II comes into vogue again.
its revival will he discussed, as the
chignon and crinoline were talked
about when IL was thought they might
be worn.
The Mother Hubbard Is n small dis
aster I'm woman's dress still remember
ed. It spread over the country and
could not he dislodged. IT became an
object of public scorn and ridicule. yet
Il remained on view longer than any
body wanted ii to. II WIS the butt or
every humorist When it finally disap-
peared. the wrapper had received its
first serious blow as a popular gar
ment. Anything with looseness thar
resembled the departed Mother Hub
bard was not to he thought of. The Ill
repufe which attended the final de-
parture of the Mother Hubbard put a
Temporary end to any dress that re-
produced its flowing looSeneSs. Thus
was the vogue of the wrapper nrst
damaged. 1t never recovered. Other
influences came in TO complete the
work Of its final extinction. The
younger generation became athletic.
There was no sympathy between lawn.
tennis and wrapper. The older gem
Grafton grew ms tailor made as 1t could,
and every influence was against the
revival of the wrapper. Corsets lost
their appearance to the younger wom-
on. and on the relief from tight stays
rested much of the wrappers popu'
larity. Physicians say that women
lace less now than they did some years
ago. and prove that by showing now
much larger their waists have grown.
But neither its graceful draperies nor
It's becoming folds held for the wrap
Der its place i'm woman's regard. III
was the opportunities it gave for re-
lief from tight stays. When these
we're not needed. the wrapper lost IT'S
last hold OH favor. Golf and the bi-
cycle have kept up the work begun
nv tennis The wrapper lost It's last
hold Of fashion when women were
comfortable enough In their oorsets to
keep them on.