The sun., 1918-10-15
Lines to Evelyn.

We have read with emotions among
which we frankly admit Is apprehen-
sion a letter by EVELYN" published
in THE EVENING SUN advocating the
disuse by women OF corsets, skirts
and high heels, and the substitution
therefor Of nothing for the corset,
trousers for skirts, and hygienic for
high heels. The advocate Is earnest,
writes we'll and with a convincing
quality in respect to two Of her three
main contentious, namely, that the
reform she proposes would IL adopted
be justified by (1) comfort, (2) econ
omy, CD attractiveness.
AS to the degree of discomfort, II
any, caused by corset. the sex for
which that garment has but an objec-
tive interest Is not fitted to discuss
Of low heel comfort the case Is so
powerfully pleaded we adopt EvELYN's
contentious and vote for low, well,
moderately low. heels for women.
1t is in respect to the advocates
third contention, that woman, even II
she wishes to set her cap for q
man." would set 1t more attractively
IL she wore trousers instead Of a
skirt that we dissent. II 1t be te-
merity for man to question a wOman's
dictum in taste concerning the eIe-
ments Of her own attractiveness, then.
EVELYN, call us rash-but listen.
Is there not beauty In rose be-
yond or ut least in addition to Its
color--its form? When. EVELYN, your
reform accomplished, you shall sum-
mon HoRTENsE to help you on with
your trousers, will YOU ring n box
shaped or a Mfurcated bell, or one
with lovely flowing lines llke-you
anticipate us--a skirt? We ask you
in all frankness. EVELYN, what does
Bowery gallant, child of nature.
call the lady whose favor he claims
his shirtwaist, his coiffeur. his cor
set, his high heel? No. EVELYN, you
know better. lie calls her his skirt,
and for a reason which roots down
into the very fundamentals Of the
whole matter here involved: Woman
and her attactiveness.
You say, EVELYN, that woman In
easy fitting trousers" would be
more graceful dancing, crossing an
icy, wind swept street, playing ten
mis- or basketball or scrubbing floor"'
than she would be in skirts An as
| sertiOn subject to examination; we
assert the contrary and invite cross
examination. Grace, we take It, is
! displayed by line aud movement. As
to line we have given some hints
| which 80 clever q woman as we dis
cover you to be will ponder heed
fully. Do you in watching a man
and woman at tennis look for the
swish and flow. the charming curve
and whipping futter and fiirt of the
mans trousers or the woman's skirts
to satisfy your longing for beauty In
movement On our word, EVELYN,
= tbtiC 40
mans trousers; not even the price,
these days.
We have not sought TO convince
you, EVELYN; rather TO accelerate the
processes of your nimble mind that
1t may convince itself. To thdt end
we add only one thought: Through
the ages woman, slave or chatelalne
has freely dressed to be attractive,
and to that end has given full sway
to her ingenuity, her reasoning facul.
ties, applied them to the deepest and
proper purpose OF her life. and she
has chung to skirts. Through all the
ages artists have sought TO express
beauty, yet from the Victory of Samo-
thrace to her of the Fifth Avenue
Plaza no artist has been inspired to
express beauty by clothing the fe-
male form divine In trousers.
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