The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1912-08-10
DANGER AHEAD
FOR GIRLS WHO
DRESS IN STYLE
Loud Warning Voiced by n.
Edwin Lewis, Editor and
Physician.
THE CASE OF SCHWARTZ.
Every SUCCESSFULLY ALFRED
Girl in Peril of Ruin
and Death.
THE CASE OF SCHWARTZ.

To the chorus of clergymen, civic re.
formers and city ma ststratss. condemn
Ing in no measured terms the immodest
dress OF the modern woman, has been
added . new voice-that OF the physl.
edan. In the current number Of Amsri.
can Medicine. Or. II. Edwin Lewis.
editor Of that periodical. dis.
ctsscs Q hitherto unemphasized danger
In prssent-day fashions.
The lengths to which many young
and fnnprudent females have gone, in
the effort to be up-to-date and chic, are
dangerous In the extreme" declares the
doctor. And this 10 not alone because
OF the constant invitation to Improper
advances from the wolves In mems
clothing who are ever seeking their
prey. but also because Of the possibility
Of inducing crimes by degenerates. We
and every other experienced physician
know that the risQue styles OF the
present day have q psychological bear
ing on q good many susceptible mon
taiities."
CASE OF SCHWARTZ CITED "A
AN INSTANCE.
only q few days after l wrote my
editorial" DR.. Lewis explained, 1T re-
ceived strange confir nation right here
In New York DO you remember one Of
the last messages OF that degenerate,
Schwartz. who killed little Julia Con-
nors? He wrote that he had been driven
crazy by the beautiful makeup Of
women. In his unframed way he was
undoubtedly trying 10 explain tho effect
on himself OF the suggestive costumes
worn by so many New York girls.
Happily most men are dominated by
innate decency and the respect they
feel for womankind. From such our
sisters and wives have little
TO fear, no matter how they dress. But
every medical man OF large practice and
experience knows only too well the fres
kindled by the present dress OF young,
voluptuous femaies. There Ii no doubt
that immodest dress is responsible for
many . young girls downfall and ruin.
IT'S all very well TO quote to tho
pure all things are pure But We have
TO face tho fact that there are plenty
OF impure minds in the world and no,
the pleasant delusion that everybody Is
endowed with childlike Innocence. Just
as u man puts locks on his doors be-
cause thieves exist, a woman should
put limits on her choice Of dress-or I'M
dress-because there are those who
are sure to take advantage OF her II
she doesn't.
Personally. don't see how pure
and modest women can adopt fashions
thar suggest conclusions concerning
their morals SO At variance to their
real character. / don't believe most of
thAan ~ ~. 20
feet they produce. am old-fashioned
enough to think that most women are
good; In fact. that they are a peg high
er than men. And feel sure that they
will refure TO wear extreme and i'm
modest styles, once they fully realize
the construction placed on their bravAdo
or imprudence or plain Ignorance by
mankind IN general.
"A certain class OF fem!ninity will
always 60 to the extremes OF immod-
esty and indecency: II 10 a part Of their
stock In trade. The cocottes OF Paris
will doubtless continue to Haunt new
and shameless designs at yace-courses
or alonk the boulsvards. But why
should our nice. modest little American
girls follow In their train?''
Then you don't agree that the aver
age man likes to see . woman wearing
suggestive clothing?"
AVERAGE MAN piscUsTEp WITH
STARTLING DRESSES.
II do not!' DIR. Lewis asseverated
with emphasis. II think the average
man Is disgusted and dlsheartened by
the recent startling changes In the
dress OF womer. i know I never came
to a full realization Of the prsvsien,
denominations until one day last sprlni
when l had to meet q friend at Forty
second street and Broadway. IL wal
just after closing time for the biz
shops. and l saw a perfect avalanche
OF the SRI employees. Even little sirii
OF thirteen or fourteen were dressed IL
a way that was scandalo Apparertl,
none OF them wore any psttiooats. ant
their short. narrow outside skirts ant
tightly drawn bodices outlined ever,
curve of hip and torso In the mos
reckless fashion. Also they we're painte
as II they had Just stepped from bsh!nS
the footilghts.
II know women never used to dresl
like that! ! know plenty OF women-m,
wife 10 one-who to-day would neve,
dream OF putting on such clothes. I'll
not that | am opposed to women's wear
ing pretty things. | don't 20 in fol
boomers or oven the absence OF cofsets
i think the white, light. frtly garments
the ribbons snd feathers and ruchinss
which women have worn for centuries
are absolutely charming. 1t Is the un
due revelation of the hgure. the accent
uatlon Of sex characteristics. to which
l object.
"Thsre Is 30 much that Is sensible II
modern dress" concluded Or. Lewis
The reasonably short walking skirt
the iooser corset. the abolition o
the hiSh collar. are all excellent fea
lures. 1t seems too bad that the gen
eral effect must be condemned be.
cause Of the unsesmly cSaggsratloni
and distortions copied from the DENT
mondaine"