Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-22
THOSE PULL-BACK SKIRTS
The Subject Further Discussed by Numer-
Gus Correspondents.
Opinions Roth For and Against the
Present Fashion of Wo-
mems Attire.

Many communications have been received
at The Star office in regard to the present
style of ladies attire, and the method Of
holding their skirts. the discussion having
been started by a letter signed M. L. c.
which was published last week. From the
replies received the following have been
selected. giving views on both sides of the
question:
Let the Girls Alone.
''Old Boy" writes:
The discussion of mans and woman's APP
parel and the relative modesty or immod-
esty thereof is a most entertaining theme,
and is hailed d happy relief from the
Boston anti-.mperial manitestoes. Now, will
you permit old chap to say word. OF
several, on the subject? Time was when L
really believed women had no legs. The
style then was long skirts held out by
hoops, not even feet being visible. Won H.,
it seemed to me. simply rolled around ut
will, and how they did it a puzzle to
my budding thoughts. Since then I've often
sat in the b. h. row at the theaters and
aSCertained that women not only do nave
legs. but that the variety in shape Nc, Is
almost great with men W hat bOth-
ers me most now is why such TODD is
made if a passing glimpse is obtained OF
woman's hose. Don't you know. l think
the old Latin maxim, "Omne lgnotum pro
magnifiCo." has much to do with ii.
The way our girls have of switching
things around is thought 10 be chic, don
you know, ard mere thickness must never
BE- COMPOUNDED with yuigartty. If bloom
ers were universally worn, no doubt there
would he fewer Peeping Toms, but so many
people are like the old general, and want
skirts nothing" that L dare say this
same discussion will be found going ON i'll
The Evening Star century hence.
1 sometimes wonder if Adam didn't find
fault with the way Eve wore her fig leaf
The fact is, my sex is altogether too eX-
acting and fault-finding. Leave the girls
alone-they are all right
Drcssmakers Chiefly to Blame.
Here is what M. c." says:
Recent communications to The Star re-
ferring to the prevailing style of street
costume for ladies are. to say the least
refreshing. Something of truth and a little
spitefulness has appeared in most of them
However NJ L. C.s criticism has not been
successfully cOntroverted. Did you ever
see the ''coochi-coochi?' q think that is
the way it is spelled-) The daughter OF
HerOd.as danced it to the satisfaction of
Herod. All the art of voluptuous body
posing and muscle twisting is concentrated
in that dance. If you have witnessed that
oriental dream compare its insinuating mo-
lions to the pay of the mass of ump.
gluteal muscles the hips of a we'll
formed lass she promenades before you
with gown drawn tightly across her goodly
proportions.
1t is all very well for those who are
tied up in godly laCes'' to say, Ito the pure
all things are pure Isn't ii enjOned upon
the race by the greatest known authority
to lead US not into tempJation?''
Common tense and prupriety, and even
that thing called good FORM" condemns
the costume that compeIs the wearer to
have one hand carried upon the hips or
over the lower end of the spinal column,
as though trying to conceal a defect in
the costume.
In an urchin who has Unexpectedly dis
covered rent IN his neither garments and
tries To conceal il with his hand the sight
Is cpIn-caI, and what is it in a well-dreSsed
lacy 10 walk the street in like manner?
As long as ladies allow themselves to be
Ied by fashiOn-boOk makers We may ex-
Pect t0 see all kinds of costumes upon the
street. There Is p lace for everything
put the street is not the place for a gown
that trails upon the ground. The costume
Tor the street should not be long enough
to touch the pavement There are many
ways OF making dress handsome. as well
useful
One writer objects to glimpse of the
uHDOoled ankle. Therein is prudery. The
leg IS formed for the use of locomotion and
1t ought not to be hampered. 1t is there
fore not immOdest to have it free, espe-
cially at the foot.
The bicycle has wrought a good work in
bringing the short skirt into more general
use OF course there are some bicycle
riders who have not yet caught on to the
proper NttSS LOT the wheel. A correct wheel
dress Is not graceful one for pedestrian
ism, because it should be little longer in
front than behind. The neatest leg dress
ing Tor the wheel consists in a low shoe
with solid hose the color of the skirts
Monotone suits in bicycle dressing prevents
the exposure of form. provided the skirts
are of proper length (about eight inches
from the ground in the back and six inches
in 'front.'.
Let women reserve for the drawing room
gowns OF flowing form, when she may dis
play her graces and charms in rich gar
ments of delightful color and texture and
De adored as the most beautiful creation
In the universe
street dressing that borders on the i'm
modest was instituted by the demi-monde
OF farls- Later II was fostered by the
iashlon-plate makers as matter of busi-
ness Is 1t not pity that American ladies
OF refinement should fall into the trap of
being led into the adoption of absurd dress
ing for the street under the guise of fash
ion? BY this / do not imply that there is
not large class independent and artistic
enough to- dress in a sensible and beautiful
manner for Out-of-doOr life. Dressmakers
are chiefly to blame for the introduction of
most Of the absurdities of the street dress
A lady goes to them for advice. She picks
up a Book al la Mode" and says this or
that is the correct thing. and so the victim
OF Mrs Grundy submits, with perhaps
many misgtvings.
Tfs true. it's pity:
Pity It's tbs true