The evening world., 1921-01-08
Short Skirts and Lou Nccks
Good Moral Influence
Also Make for Better Health
Several Agree With Thompson Seton That Clothes
Are Not the Lhe-PTeserUerS of MOrahtg-W Onen's
Costumes To-Day the SGnest in History of Race.

Marguerite MOOers Marshall.


~LoTHES are not the ltfo-prs-
servers OF morality, after all.
A woman may wear a short
skirt without being short on goodness.
A low dress IS not necessarily the
outward investiture of a low mind.
The human body should not head the
list OF hidden crimes.
And this new philosophy Of CLOTHES
new only because it is so old-hss
found a modern prophet, an American
sartor Resartus. IN our great scien-
list and naturalist, DIR. Ernest
Thompson-Seton. Like a dear, clean
breath OF the west wind, clearing
away the fog OF pseudo-morality and
prurient, prdggish denunciation which
has hung about tho modern woman's
dress, comes DR.. Thompson-setUn's
recent defense of its authorizations
and Examinations. of its morality,
health and comfort.
'"phe costumes OF the women OF
to-day" no says, "are the most sane
in the history of the race since the
dawn OF so-called civilization, and
moving in the right direction. The
shorter the dress OF the female and
the lower the neck Of her bodice. the
greater her moral influence and the
greater her tendency TO health.
Sex morality has no relation to
clothing. as is proved by the naked
tribes OF East Africa, who are the
oct III 40 Il -.
their natural state, but who always
take downward step morally when
compelled by missionaries to wear
clothing"
Many OF the naturally naked ma
lives OF the South Sea Islands might
have been mentioned by DIR. Thomp-
SON Seton to prove his point There
arc plenty Of explorers and writer's
who maintain that these peoples were
both healthier and freer from vice
before the white mans civilization
compelled them to don pants and
pettiCoats.
I'm Turkey" continued the natural
i5t, where more clothing is worn by
the women than in any other coun-
Try on the globe, the morality of the
people is the lowest. This was also
true OF France when the women
Hwathed themselves in heavy robes
of silks and sattnS and covered their
faces with powder and patches. No,
covering the body with clothes tempts
rather than prevents tendency to
immortality"
Or. as a Broadway philosopher once
put it TO me, "a little show girl in a
tiEht-ditting black silk stocking Is
worth all the bare-legged beauties
that ever pranced-"
And, defending the lowe cut blouses
and evening gowns OF the modern
woman, DR.. ThompsonISeton draws
this interesting military comparison;
"The soldiers OF the United States
Army, compelled TO wear high collars
and tight about the neck clothing
show an average of diseases of tho
throat of 43 per 1000, while the sail
ors OF the United States. with more
exposed life and collars wide open
and low, show but 81 TO 1000 with
throat troubles.
'Why wear clothes7" he challenges.
PERSONALLY, have always been IN
rebellion against having my body
bothered and hindered by clothing
And how many Of us In our secret
hearts agree with him? In this eli
mate, OF course, a certain amount OF
clothing Is necessary, even the native
Americans had their skins and blan-
Izets AS a consistent naturalist, DR..
Thompson Seton probably would adj
NIT that the human animal needs some
protection TO take the place OF the
hairy or feathery covering with which
other warm-blo oded animals are sup
Piled
A few clothes we need 49, but we
have worn 90 much too much! Ply
dcians for decades have been urging
the sartorial ideals now realized IN the
- ~ n
long skirts" said the doctors They
are germ collectors, and they mean
damp ankles for much OF the time.
No corsets. They. construct the most
vital organs OF the body. No high
tAght collars They interfere with some
of the most important glands"
Now women are wearing short
skirts. are taking off their corsets. are
DOMINIC skirts that stop Just below
the knee. And how the PuHtans howl
one British medical writer how
ever recently eYinced strong salts
faction over the Ow-bacled evening
dress OF to-day, Far from causing
colds or pneumonia the decollete
dress improves the circulation Of the
Mood, encourages women TO develop
their arms and shoulders and gives
them more grace and dignity, sayt
this physic clan. lie continues:
but one of the most gratifying re-
suits viii be tho effect on the face
There rs no doubt whatever that
many Of tho skin troubles endured
by women have been caused by tight
and warm clothing around the neck
When the blood is permitted to cir
c7llate freely the complexion will i'm
prove, wrinkles and pimp'es viii dis
appear, and, other conditions being
favorable, the face will become
plumper. clearer and Of better color
The loOsencss about the mech
should also lave a beneficial influ
cnce on the hair. Probably much OF
tho badness of at least the earliel
years OF middle age Is due to want Of
a sufficient supply of blood to The
Sc p. With tho coming OF the low
neclCed dress there is ground FOR hopt
that women will be much lest
troubled with falling or graying hair
obviously the unpleasant effects o.
heat will be reduced. for the GOODNESS
Of the bare upper part will cool the
whole sblOod-stream and body. The
good influence ON the nervous systen
II perhaps the most important factor
The GOODNESS and ease and the fire,
circulation OF pure blood TO the bradI
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