Year: 1874

low the knee. Then thrusting her
arms into little jacket or coat, the
novel attire was complete. The trowsers
were cut straight and reached quite to
the instep and they were made of some
dark, coarse material. The good lady
did not feel quite at home in her new
rig, for she went struiting about in a
painfully awkward way.


Having completed the change Of
toilet, the good lady hammered on the
desk, and the Vcegerent entered tim
idly


Doctor, you may open the door
now, she said.


In moment half dozen more ladies'
entered and took seats, highly am used at
the appearance Of the apparition on the
platform. The half dozen ladies being
seated, Mrs. Clark proceeded in all SOL
emnity with the business of the day.
After the reading of the minutes, the
lady read aloud the agreement, which
she invited those present to sign, viz. !;
10 adopt the style of dress in which she
then appeared, and march in the process
sion with it on the Fourth OF July


There was not single signature forth
coming, and after some little time the
good lady with toss Of her head, re-
marked that 1t was evident the hearts Of
those present were not in the movement.


One very thin lady said she thought
she could hardly consent to wear the rig
that Mrs. Clark appeared in, but she
would like to have little discussion
about underclothes. There was no doubt
in her mind but there was much room
for improvement in the construction Of
ladies' underwear. For her part, she
had always worn garters, but she be-
lieved that to maintain the symmetry of
the limb the stockings should be but
toned to an elastic reaching to the
cor.


A lady in black (rising)-I always
wear mine fastened to the DR..


Mrs. Clark (hurriedly)-Doctor, you
can't come in just now. You must not
be here, sir.


The Lords lieutenant had heard
whisper of what was going on outside
the door, and had glided in, He retired
much disappointed.


As l was saying continued the thin
lady, 81 am violently opposed to having
the younger portion Of society cramp its
limbs with elastic garters. They should
be worn with elastics fastened at the
waist"


The Lady in Black-As Twas saying, /
always wear mine buttoned right to the
Dr.


The First Lady (interrupting) Non
sense. How do you keep them upY


The Lady in Black (maliciously)-0hl
they stay up well enough on my limbs,
though hardly think, from appearan-
ces, that they would on yours.


The Thin Lady (angrily)-Indeed,
Madam, guess if the truth was known,
my lie -


Mrs. Clark trapping on the table,
The ladies will please maintain order.
(Looking towards the door,. DR.. Pink
ham, 1 We told you before that you can't
be here. You must go out, sir.


One or two of the ladies' here looked
up and seeing the Vcegerent gave q
little scream, at which that celestial be
ing again withdrew with troubled look.


The Thin Lady (resuming) There is
another reform in underwear that |
would like to speak Of and that is the
abolishing of the chemise. There never
was more useless garment worn than
that.


The Lady in Black (cruelly)-Non-
sense; what would you wear instead2


The Thin LADY, wouldn't wear any
thing.


Chorus of Voices-0h, horrorl why
what would you look like2


l.. ltas, lrfl--
Like schooners scudding under bare


Mrs Clark-Ladies, if we cannot ar
rive at any conclusion with reference to
these great reforms, / think we had bet.
ter adjourn until next week.


At tkis juncture melancholy looking
lady about fifty, who had kept silent all
through the proceedings, arose and said
that there was another matter that she
would like to bring before the meeting,
and that was a subject which, if fully
understood and rightly appreciated,
would make ladies supremely happy
would end their greatest troubles; would
enable them to keep their youth and
beauty, and keep their husbands in love
with them much better than shorter
skirts or the abolition of the ornamental
underwear which SO much delights the
eye.


There was an expression of wonder
upon every face as the melancholy lady
made this little speech,


"I refer" she continued, ito the ne
cessity Of retrenchment in child-rear-
ing"


The Lady in Black (sententiously)-
Oh, nonsense That's not to be thought
Of. Why, how are you going to pre-
vent


The Thin Lady-I am decidedly in
favor of the lady's suggestion, and l
think it perfectly feasible.


The Lady in Black with sneer, and
a queer glance at the thin lady)-I dare
say.
think two children are quite enough to
come into any family.


The Lady in Black-Thats all very
true. but how are you going to regulate
that except by total


Several Voices Gnterrupting) OIL
we couldn't think of that That's per
feet nonsense.


DIR. Pinkham (who had lust come in,