The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-05

DIR. Harding'S Idea of a Skirt.
ceal mans humiliation, his unsightly
legs. whereas women should adapt and
aGorn themselves in the briefest and
gauziest raiment consistent with COM
| fort. No one but DR.. LOveland has ever
said that she is not good because she
is beautiful and because her clothes fit
her. The man who would be corrupted
| and misled by the appearance of Il
VIC man beautifully gowned in a modern
| mind pronounced Mr.. Doran, sis all
| ready diseased
| The reporter chuckled. and the attor-
| ney, thus applauded, warmed to his
| subject.
mo, DR.. Loveland,'' said he in SOM
bre tones, you're wrong. And, DR..
Harding, you're right. In fact, you are
| always right. I am with you in any
thing you want, and with the women.
| They can have anything they want, es-
| pecially if they do not want much IN
the way of clothing, as it is cheaper,
more beautiful and better"'
Mr.. Doran. apparently addressing a
dIaphanous vision, stared ahead of him,
and eloquently declaimed:
woman, you're wise; you have
studied the question; you have solved
the problem. May God bless you, and
may you wear a more beautiful gown
next year than you wear this. If you
be wiser and better. So, DR.. Lovelanl,
pardon me if I suggest that you stick
to your text and keep away from the
beautiful garments of women. They
have led many another good man
astray.'
McKeever ON the Fence.
Edwin McKeever, on the other hand.
sEeathed his shafts of Irish wit, and
viewed the subject with the solemnity
Of a churchman.
TT is terrible to have TO be inter
viewed on this subject murmured he,
fitting gowns improper? That depends
on who wears 'em. Some women look
pretty in everything, and some women
don't look pretty in anything. A woman
ought. to look pretty; that's her bust
ness.
fence; 1 stand for moderation.
I'll tell you,' exclaimed the attoT-|
ney, seized with an inspiration, eff
could decide the question I'd have
women dress according to their ages.
Yes, sir. Little girls should wear dress
es to their knees; girls between 20 and
so should wear 'em to their ankles; ct
40 women should wear divided skirts; at
so. Turkish trousers. By Jove, that
would solve the problem; a woman's
years would be determined by her
clothes. I'd have all widows wear
stripes; one for each husband. A grass
widow should wear green stripes. [
declare
At this moment a man who wanted
to borrow some money interrupted the
attorney; otherwise. there is no telling
TO what lengths the discussion would
have stretched.
Major Harvey Says Both Are Wrong.
Major A. NJ. Harvey. glancing up
from his desk. spoke briefly and to the
point. Each statement he made was
more startling than the last.
Both doctors are wrong" quoth he,
''and for this reason; namely, people
should wear no clothes at all. DR.. Hard
ing approaches right. but doesn't reach
It, I'm with Carlyle. You remember
his suggestion for parliamentarian
clothes? No? Well, there We're none.
This is the modest and sensible way
t. dress; in time everyone will realize
ii Fact is, I'm expecting the Bull
Moose party to put this in their plat
other ways"
Judge Frank Doster strolled in.
Come, judge urged the major,
what's your opinion. Give it out"
Judge Doster for DIR. Harding.
I'm. For. DR.. Harding responded
the judge. A period between each word
fails to express his emphasis Tin
ing immodest. enticing or suggestive"
Whereupon he retreated.
There you are" called Major Har-
vey, as the reporter went out. "And,
oil. by-the-way," he cried, as a part
ing shot. IT like to see the women hob
bled; it's the way we ought to keep
en- all the time"
DIR. Harding Stands to Guns.
DR.. Eva Harding, thrust into the
limelight by her courageous retort, still
stands by her guns.
1T was an insult to men as well as TO
women for DR. Loveland to make such
a miserable statement" cried she.
formerly feet We're immoral; now it's
legs We have short dresses; let rs
have comfortable ones. AS a physician
I feel qualified to state that the
modern dress is the most healthful in
years; let four or five petticoats and
fifty yards of goods hang from
woman's waist, and I declare it's
positively dangerous.
You have no idea how many letters
7 have received on this very question"
DIR. Harding produced one from a
prominent attorney.
Il want you to take your own medi-
cine said he, wear for one short hour
ale ng two blocks of Kansas avenue the
f. latest diaphanous, abbreviated skirt
now in vogue.
and I'd do it," quoth DR.. Harding,
there isn't a skirt in Topeka that I'd
he ashamed to wear
4