The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-04-05
SHOCKING FEMININE DRESS.

A new, or rather hitherto over
looked, phase of the question OF what
induces so many women and girls to
wear dresses that offend mOdesty, has
been brought to light by Mrs. James
GrisWold WentZ Of New York City,
who is acting chairman of the Decent
Dress Committee Of the Republican
Club. New York's shopping district
has been divided into five districts by
Mrs. WentZ and her associates, and
member of the committee will be in
charge of each district to watch win
dow displays in an effort to prevent
the public exhibition of waistless
gowns and gauze-like lingerie.
The committee intends to appeal to
designers to allow more material
above the waist-line in evening gowns
Il understand the French gowns.
which are coming in, are to be worse
than any we have had yet said Mrs
Wentz, recently, but | don't know
how they can be-"
Mrs. Wentz is also looking forward
TO the work of the City Federation.
The resolution which was passed at
the last meeting of the federation
provided for the appointment OF a
committee on decent dress by the in
coming president" said Mrs. Wentz.
COPIES of the resolution protesting
against immodest dressing by women
will be sent to the different clubs in
the federation to be read to their
members. This will mean that AGO.
900 women will be reached.
Il heard Mrs. Ellen O'Grady, the
deputy police commissioner, say she
was Mortified at the lack of mOdeSty
in young women, and that she could
not account for it." Mrs. WentZ de-
clared Il said it was because of the
kind of gowns they saw worn. You
see them everywhere-at the opera,
at balls, at hotels, and at dances OF
all kinds. 1t is demOraliZing to our
women, demoraliZing to our very
young girls, and it will demoralize our
young men who are coming home
from France.
Il have been into one Of the big
shops where they were making win
dow display of chiffon and georgette
crepe underwear which is absolutely
transparent, and asked if they would
not make a change and display some
thing else. They said they were not
showing them on human beings. But
they are suggestive. This was one OF
the big shops of which | have been a
patron for a long time. | told them
it was the first place had asked them
to do this, and I hoped they would
help. | hope | shan't see windows
with that kind of a display again.
Recently Cardinal Annette, Arch
bishop of Paris, issued a protest
against immodesty which may wei
serve as a conclusion to the forego
{ ing:
AT various times we have recon
mende1 to the faithful to act ener
getically against indecent fashions
and immodest dances. These abuses
which are being renewed, oblige us tC
insist on this grave duty. We recall
to our diocesans that they should al
ways observe in their attire the rules
Of Christian modesty, which are toe
often violated even in church, espe
cialIy in the ceremony of marriages
We deplore that, in spite of the SUI
ferings of so great number and the
recent sorrows which demand more
reserve and decency, people are be
ginning again to give themselves III
without restraint to all kinds of pleas
ures. We condemn anew the dance
of foreign importation, reprobated b.
both modesty and propriety. Chris
tan persons cannot in conscienc,
ta.e part in them; and confessor
should take action in consequence il
the tribunal of penance."