The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-30
M FEN w O. M EN
 A ND T HIN GS

I hurried back from Nashville in or der to attend Beauty in Fashion," the lovely pageant put on by the Alabama Art league at the Southern club on Thursday night for the pleasure of the Alabama Federation of Women's Clubs.
 l knew that under the direction of Mrs. w. S. Lowell and Mrs Morris Bush that it would be both beautiful and ar tistic as to the stage setting and deco rations, and that with such charming and lovely models to show off the gowns oi the historic periods and the dresses of the day, it would be an evening in which one could get an eye full of beauty. l
 But the thing I did not know was that I would get a story out of it, for it came under the department of the society editor, and the Alabama League of Wom- en Voters just having completed their sessions and the Alabama Federation of Women's Clubs being still in convention, as ''mere man" I was a bit afraid to < open my mouth, or rather take up my pen.
 |
 Then there was the other handicap of being preacher, which for the moment troubled me, for in long experience as pastor, as an editor of a religious week ly and as delegate to denominational conferences, and as student of cur rent social events 1 was aware that in nine cases out of ten whenever the clergy tried to interfere or even make sugges- tions about womens dress they got into trouble
 I well recall that on one occasion when tkere was much agitation about reform ing the advanced styles which seemed Ito tend towards an undue license in the matter of showing the human form divine was led unwillingy into the discussion through the pressure of the reformers, and in this way attracted the attention of some lovely matrons, who, to put it mildly, let me understand that they thought I was talking about something didn't know anything about.
 I'll admit that I was outclassed, and so when one in a moment of excitement, to clinch her point of view, said with some degree of heat, q want you men to understand that the more you talk about the women's clothes the less we are going to wear" I saw that my only hope of, preserving my "face," to borrow a Chinese expression, would be to take high moral grounds, so I answered: That hot, T I1ria J not see how it's possible for you to leave off anything else. She was a good sport, and seeing that I had put her in a hole, she admitted with bushes that she had made too broad a statement.
 To be perfectly frank, am willing to allow women large latitude in the matter of dress, for I am sure that we men adopt the wearing apparel which is pleas the demand on the part of dress reform CTS that women should quit wearing cor sets. The call was based on aesthetic as we'll as health grounds. The future of the race was made to hinge upon it; but now that some have rid them- selves of the-I started to say-objec tionable garment, but as it may not be the right word to use, I'll just call it "contraption, cry has gone up against it's being immodest for woman to be comfortable
 I also well remember when long skirts which trailed the ground were in fashion that the medical world rose up In arms against the filthiness of the habit, and made out against the practice a good case in the interest of public health, for it was shown that the trailing dresses gath cred up dust which was highly danger ous. And now when skirts are getting higher there is hue and cry under the plea that it is immodest, and the wear CTS, both young and old, are held up as horrible examples in that they are cor rupters of morals.
 I realize full well that I am laying myself open to all kinds of criticism and misunderstanding, but I think the Anglo-Saxon needs to rid himself of much accumulated impedimenta concerning the
 
 posture of the human form on the part of women. Say what you please. there was beauty and sanity among the Greek costumes which might well be adopted in the present, and sensible way of looking upon the human form which in my opinion is preferable to much of the hypocrisy in vogue about it today.
 There is a middle way in which women can walk with modesty, and the great majority of them choose it voluntarily. There will always be some more daring sisters who prefer to tread the great white way in gowns which are meant to make men stare; but women of the best brettes by wearing costumes which have brettes by wearing vostumes which have upon them the vaudeville stamp or give even the faintest suggestion of. those worn by their unfortunate sisters who are social outcasts.
 These were the thoughts which came to me as I sat through the tableaux at the Beauty in Fashion" which was so artistic and cultural It was a delight to Nsee our lovely young women and charming matrons wearing their gowns with such ease and grace I hope I'll never get too old to enjoy looking at pretty and we'll dressed women. l am sure that the many beautiful and lovely l