Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-12
VAGARIES OF FASHION
WONDROUS SPIRIT OF SUBMIS
SION SHOWN BY WOMEN.
New English Tyranny Of Being But
toned Up Behind-Husband as
Lady's Maid.
From the London Chronicle.

From the London Chronicle.
On returning to England after an absence
Of only few years the first thought about
ones friends Is How will they be looking?
In travelling about the world the wonder Is,
What will they be wearing? The two
thoughts are In reality closely connected.
and when one suddenly meets them without
undergoing the conventional course OF
breaking in, fashions vagaries strike the
eye in a manner which may appear incom-
prehensible.
4 had read in some newspaper, with Its
not unnaturally amused commentary that
well-developed hips were no longer to be in
fashion. and then 1 arrived to find every
one looking-enormous! There was a sea-
son when, returning to London after seven
years absence. found ladies barely able to
sit down. and was distracted from my de-
votions the first Sunday in England by
the extraordinary contortions and strange
jerks of a tall. thin woman before me. as
she with difficulty lowered and raised her
self. Happily, she was not stout. the
sight would have been more distressing.
Three years ago weak women moved
through the street struggling, with both
hands to raise a weight OF petticoats out OF
the dirt, and for the most part yainly en-
deavoring to retain them lifted. Very FASH
ionable ladies were even then fastened into
their clothes in a manner mystic, wonder
full clearly demanding a ladies' maid, and
indicating more or less serpentine con-
tour, also. like the serpent. often covered
with many scales of glittering brightness.
Buttons Behind.
This year there is no likeness to the SER
pent either in its wisdom or It's contour. but
every little shop girl. hard pressed to be
ready in the morning and get through her
1ajly task IL hntfOped behind a
fashion that was formerly considered to be-
token a ladys maid. 1t is pitiful rather
than absurd to think how thus one. more
worry IS added to the many worries of life.
We are told that it is worry rather than
grief that draws the telltale lines upon our
faces, and certainly the lines abound OF
course. ladies tell me, Il can do it myself.
l am flexible But when ask. THE ques-
ton Is not whether you can do 1t. But do
you fasten your dress habitually?' No one
yet has had the hardihood to reply "Yesr'
While the young ladies in the shops. where
do not buy one of the many hundred
blouses composed of foam, and to be
worn laced with pearls, and with no more
substance in them to resist the changes of
our English samples of weather"--the
young ladies In the shops serenely tip
toeing, say softly: Madame, cannot your
husband fasten your dress for your Then
on receiving the stern reply, II have higher
uses to put my husband to" some cutter
out or filter Is sure to exclaim: "Oh. my
husband always does. You should train
him. madame"
But what If husbands-the idea is absurd
of course-if husbands actuaily-busy!
Women accomplish little because of the
many cares with which they handicap them
selves. II husbands to be called away
from their astronomical calculations from
their consideration of tariff reform and the
like, to button up their wives frocks every
time she changes. the world will be minus
Its Gallileos and the like Besides, they are
not all trained.
The Husband Maid.
Every word you said Is perfectly true"
said a laughing lady to me the other day
at the great American ladies' luncheon, that
was like the play of Hamlet" with Hamlet
left out. for the new United States ambas-
sador We were all to welcome did not come
thus giving us opportunity to discuss
many matters OF Importance. When we
go on journey" she continued, II do not
run to an Abigail. And / say, Tom, will
you fasten my dress for mer And he says
Now. just wait minute Nance. while I
put on my glasses. l wait! And then the
first two buttons go all right, but after
that She paused and several of US
made suggestions as to what happened
then They were not quite accepted.
No-o-o but Tom says, Why ever Nance
don't you dress like other women? And
theh say IT Is because am dressed like
other women, Tom. that you are at this mo-
ment fastening up this dress"
AT that luncheon l had sat fastened up in
front between two ladies equally fastened
up In front, and We all three fiattered our
selves We looked just as well, and our
dresses fitted just as well, as IL we had had
to submit to the indignity of being helped
by some one else to get into our clothes
But looking around an omnibus, where. II h
to be presumed. the ladies do not all run to
ladies' maids l noted that every woman.
well dressed or shabbily dressed, was fast
ened up behind. Picture 1t, oh, man! when
you next struggle with your shirt collar.
picture what It would be II your clothes
hind.