The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-02-17

FREDERICK Md.-PuttinE the
blame q immoTsli,y on "womsn,s
mems Trousers lsgs and hats five sizes
too large pr. Charles r. WehleT. act
ing president Of Hood college. the chief
educational Institution for women Of
the Evangelical Reformed church. calls
fer = fashion reform for men and
dent pines for the styles Of the days
Of our grandpArents--the day Of the
hoop skirts. the h~iEh-neCked bodice,
with sleeves that run TO the elbow. II
not 70 the wrists,
In the evening gown Of this day, the
gown that IL cut to the girdle in the
back and below the Sternum In front.
Or. Wehler sees tho licentiousHess OF the
women Of tll-fame. And the wearing OF
them by society women makes weak
men weaker asserts this educator,
minister nnd former newspaper man,
modern styles, Or. wehler has read
with svidity the comments Of other
churchmen and educators Of America
and Europe; and Of al the comments
which most pleased him, that OF Cardi-
nal Annette, London, published recently
cides with those OF Or. wehler.
Women Taken In"
Or. wehler believes that the better
class Of ON have, Al he says, "un-
fortunately allowed themselves 10 he
taken In by the extreme styles. simply
Il, be able to be in style"
He says:
III the Christian church Is to be =
leader tn thought and conduct, she has
at least q right TO express her views on
this question. II not 10 make ~peTemptory
demands. ] firmly believe Il would be a
great boon 10 the physical M moral
health Of the country II there were in
sugurated q campaign for dress reform
upward, downward and outward, for
the fashionable gown OF today Is too
short, too low and too narrow.
When was %apprHaehed for my
thought that arose in my mind was,
What Is the purpose Of this style OF
dress is Il. for comfort? Reason says
no. In cold weather II Is by addition
Of clothing that we obtain comfort and
not by subtraction.
No Comfort to It.
Furthermore. the so.ealled fashion.
ably dressed woman Il not only physic.
ally uncomfortable, but mentally az
well; especially Is this true Of a large
number. for believe that, notwith-
vast majority OF the womanhood OF our
country stin haYe a true sense Of the
beauty. modestyN and dignity OF woman.
My view Of this is confirmed by the
action Of the women themselves, Not
long & ] observed a woman wearing
one OF these short, narrow dresses at
an afternoon company. She was OF lit
tie more than average size and you
can well imagine what an attitude that
dress assumed when she sat down on
a chair, that for her. was Just q trifle
low. She pulled and tngged at II. but
Il was made that way and che could
not lengthen II.
Her countenance showed that she
was conscious Of the fact that nRtuuk
had endowed her with a pair of good
sized feet. II Is true she wore q pair
or handsome high shoes, laced TO tho
very top, but there was not quite
enough leather used In the tops and
they lacked about two inches OF meet.
ing at the lacing, II mattered not what
course the conversation took. II was
evident that the one thought uppermost
In her mind was that short. narrow,
mean, though stylish. dress, and those
good -siged, unprotected feet.
II have observed the same evidence OF
discomfort on account OF a too scant
protection for the upper part Of the
body, Why will women wear dresses 20
low at the neck that they feel con.