Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-07-26

| o
and she has come to stay for a
| time at least. She was introduced to
us few years ago by Gibson and his
followers, and the Gibson girl grew
upon our tastes to such an extent that
the supply now is hardly equal to the
demand.
1t is the fashion to be tall, and to
| say IL is the fashion for girls to be tall
means very much more than saying
"tall girls are the fashion. The
medium height maidens are trying to
| gown themselves and walk in manner
which will bring them up to the poets
idea of DIANA "Divinely tall and
most divinely fair"
Many theories have been put forward
to account for the sudden appearance OF
| the tall girl. She did not use to be
here in such profusion. How can she
| be accounted for? One theory of this
phenomenon is explained by the fact
that delicate PLANTS always shoot
upwards toward the light with more
strength and rapidity il their arms and
branches are out off. Now, this would
apply to the tall girl only so far as she
gives all her strength Of mind to the
desire to grow up, rather than out.
| Another theory Is that 1t is due to
the aesthetic movement. The women
of the aesthetic artist are nearly always
tall, willowy and serrentine. This
form of commanding height has for
many years been before US in paintings
and drawings, and it is unavoidable
that the pattern should not have its
effect upon the new and plastic genera
tion. for never has there been genera
ton, SO open to new ideas. Those who
would belittle this matter say that the
appearance of which we speak IS largely
due to the fashion in dress, but this is
trivial. 1t is not that women wear a
style Of garments TO make them look
tall; it IS that the tall women look best
in such garments. There is no evidence
of drugs in the market, like the ANTI.
Fat" and the "Anti-Leap,' we never
hear of "Anti-Short Pills." Would
such patent medicine factory open,
/ doubt me net it could run night and
day and then hardly supply the demand,
for the short girl every day feels her
inferiority.
Men have an idea that fashions
are hap-bazzard,, guided by no fixed
laws, and are brought about by
no great movement of the times. But
women know otherwise and doubtless
feel that this tendency toward the
worship of the tall girl and the preva-
lence of her majesty is due somewhat to
the fact that women are hecomingstall
as a part of their outfit for taking the
place of men in this world, aud that
the truly emaneipated woman Is likely
to expand physically as well as men.
tally that, as she is beginning to look
upon man intellectually she is likely
to have corresponding physical
standard.
Seriously, though, none Of these
theories is altogether satisfactory. And
just between us women we know that
the simplest explanation that women
are tall and are becoming tall il
because it is the fashion to be tall.
"Alice, when she wandered in "Won.
derland," tasting thereof what she
found, drank refreshing liquid that
at once made her grow very tall, OF die
she go to sleep and waken up and find shs
was quite too big for her environments
| don't remember which, but whicr
ever it was, a stimulating LIQUID or 9
sleeping potion, maybe milady Of
fashion has discovered the secret anc
keeps on her dressing table tiny silver
jar of the same. We all know thai
Venus dc Medoci was tall. Atalantt
was beyond the average height, anc
Josephine, whom Napoleon loved, coult
physically look down upon his lordshiI
from an advantage of several inches
But She loved Napoleon Just the same
and Atalanta may have had tendei
passion for one of the youths OF. the
arena whose mark under the beam wa.
hers less several inches; so | Think th,
men need not bemoan for these tall gil !.
seem invariably to be benigpant anG
bear their height with sweet timidity.
Unless all analysis of the femal,
heart is delusion, what women like
most of all thirgs in this world, is {
man, substantial unfeminine being
and even though women have turned
their attention to the theory Of growing
tall and passing far beyond the stern mel
sex, doubt not that they turn aside a
any time from their purpose to go ir
search of man.
| do not know how they manage theil
little love affairs. Her head uror
his manly bosom, as they said goot
night" would seem rather Difficult
acrobatio feat if the girl had to com,
down three or four inches to reach tina
atoresuiu coab idpels anu Sne WOuIt
look awkward to say the least, with hel
neck bont. It would seem hettor :,
have all these little affairs enacted sit
ting down. 'ff
Those who are inclined TO lind tn,
facetious side Of grave matte
will be inclined to think that tn,
man who has been too busy to thinl
about growing upward has gotten wha
he wants when they think of the littl
hymn, "Man wants but little her
below, but wants that little long. '
Will the result Of this present fashion
he desirables Will this BrobdignaRna
theory Of women have any serious pres
sure upon the future geneiationsf W
have been taught to think OF the litt
woman as the Joy Of our lives, but tn
little woman now Is sitting back await
ing her turn. Let her not fear it will
be along soon.
The tall girl is reignlng Just now OF
the golf links and on the beach. blu
the little girl is not left, and she seem
better suited for a dolce far nient
afternoon ON the beach. And then th,
hammock girl, she is ever small TIL,
tall girl would he decidedly out of plac
coiled in hammock under the trees o
a hot afternoon with q loving swat
beside her. Here is where the littl
girl should have her chance, but jusI
now ner lofty sister saems to have tb
floor You walk up Market street an,