The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-02-22

Eve" of the Times Democrat. in
her Up To- Date" column. has the fol-
lowing to say on. indecent dressing of
woman:
The biblcal Injunction .that women
adorn themselves in modest apparel.
with shamefaeeduess and sobriety" is.
forgotten by many during the present.
Carnival. for some of the toilettes worn
at the balls are far from modest. and
the only part of the injunction remem-
bered-for '.sohriety "seems overlooked
is the shamefacedness, with which
they were worn. One recalls the des-
cription, of the Poet Whittier in his
scatnlng denunciation of the dress of a.
fashionable woman he had met :"Scant
of clothing where it IS most needed.
and loaded down with it where it is
not" A young New Orleans business
man, unused to the vulgaries Of wo-
mans fashions because an infrequenter
at social functions, dined at the st.
Charles Hotel Menus nigh, and des-
cribed his feelings afterwards to his
moth 81 hope I'm not a chump."
he'said, embarrassedly, "but, honestly
| couldn't look at the women sitting at
the tables around ours. | thought
they would be ashamed to be even
glanced at. their gowns were so low.
I'd hate to have sister of mine. or. IL
wife" Exactly Most men do. Yet
women in fashionable life, many of
them, will persist In wearing decollet,e
gowns which confuse and make un-
comfortable some of the men of,theire
acquaintenance-lhe best of their ac-.
quaintsnce. without doubt.
Mrs Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
some years ago made plea for reform
in this question of personal demorlal-
ization, in ethical argument and anec-
dote Something of what she said
may be quoted:
Gloss it anyhow AS we may. decent
women have never dressed so indecent
" In our country as they do in fashion,
able life to-day We would like to
throw down the gauntlet to the women
of America Defend these immor-
alities! Speak up for yourselves as
you camp do no. believe that two
reputable women in the land would
dare publicly defend the styles of un-
dress which now disgrace our sex. The
time has more than come for such
protest against this abomination as
will smite women to the dust of shame.
What is the evening dress of a fashion,.
able woman but 4 burlesque on civil
Al a
indifference which nothing seems to
abash. The reproofs of the pulpit. the
complaints OF the press. the denunci-
alton of modest members of our own
sex fit over these barred bosoms like
the feathered Ups of their own fans.
The impression goes no deeper. An
-immodest dress does not cover mod
est woman. If the dress is disgraceful,
the wearer is disgraced. By their
robes We shall know them Let do
zen of the most influential women in 3
each American city agree to regulate
their own costume with regard to the (
essential of decorum. bind themselves
never to receive second time into
their parlors a woman who is immod-
estly dressed. Let them agree that
they will accept no invitations from
indecently dressed hostesses. 1t is per-
fectly easy. Suggest. for such au assoc
citation, simply the name The Ladies'
What would happen, think you? So
ciety would he revolutioGized in three
months. From half-nude set of Bac-.
chautes, we should become decentlv
draped human beings, and probably
stay so.r.