The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
Women Resent Critisicm of
 Clothing.

Recently Bettina and I chanced to drop into little crowd of very clever people, and as usual with a. prepond- erance of the feminine element present, the conversation very soon drifted to the all-absorbing topic of clothes" And strange to relate the men who were present were very much inter zsted. Perhaps because all the winter clothes were bought and paid for, and well, they didn't realize that already the shops are full of beautiful spring things.
 One man in the crowd spoke his mind and observed that he considered the feminine costume of today immoral, im- prudent and impossible.
 Not woman present turned a hair at these protestations but when this mere man added
 T consider them hideously ugly" there came down upon his unsuspecting cranium such a Volley of protests that the poor man was quite terrified.
 
 All of which goes on to prove that women absolutely refuse to have their clothes considered ugly. It's to omuch of a reflection on their good taste and sense end besides, men are supposed to. think that anything they may elect to appear in is pretty.
 And yet, there is no denying that some of the effects of today are not pretty, The general impression is that my ladys costume is 'topheavy,'" said the man.
 sI saw young woman recently who was supposed to be dressed la mode
 .She wore a huge hat sumptuous furs, coat with enormous lapels, and everything that apparently augmented the size of her waist
 Below that line she tapered off into almost nothingness. until at the feet she seemed to have reached the van ishing stage altogether. Sort of d modern mermaid effect.
 Her very scant broadcloth was quite unsustained by undergarments and so wrapped about her feet as to render walking an impossibility. She was a very fantastic object"
 '.Yes, that's the word-'fantastic, 9 con- tinued the masculine speaker.
 ''That's the appropus adjective that the really unprejudiced employ to describe many of the toilets that are seen this season. And yet, one must 1t in an apoogetic tone for 1t has never earned for itself an envious reputation as a de- strable adjective in relation to My Lady's gowns"
 Well, even if the frocks are 'fantas- tic. chimed in Bettina. who never knows when to keep still, the woman of today has a far better oportunity than our grandmothers."
 'I am open to criticism, I admit" said the man, "and we all have a right to our own opinions"
 That's true and I consider that the debutantes of this season may feel that they make their bow al a very suspicious period" said this whimsical woman. Why, imagine how much more chance the girl of today has to look her best in her soft clinging satins and diaphanous mo than ba her QrandmOthPr when she was girl. and was forced to wear erin oline, tarleton frocks, and slippers with heels so low that the prettiest foot and ankle appeared at a disadvantage suppose contemporary men thought their sweethearts beautiful as Helen of Troy but the beauty of today must realize her advantage"
 From this the discussion launched forth into the report that since the advent of the skin tight sleeve dumb bells and Indian clubs had advanced in price and that women had to do something to make their arms presentable, in the present styles.
 With the elbow sleeve of blessed mem ory arms had to be moderately swathed in lace and batiste and embroidery that it did not make much difference how scrawny were the lines.
 But the skin tight sleevel Mercy! It does not half reveal, half conceal,' but just frankly and undiplomaticaFy re- vea1s all-the bones the sharpness of the elbow. and all the unfortunate lack of proper development apparent in the average lazy, luxuriant American woman. It was a very animat ted discussion that we left this little coterie in, and I doubt not that I would have heard many i'm portant suggestions, but Bettina is rather a voluable person and doesn't take kind 1y to those who disagree with her opin- Ions. So conveniently remembered that MT. Edgar Saltus once said, Tt is just as well to let dynamite alone-especially if it happens to be feminine and has