Kansas University Weekly.
107
skirt, would insure the present reform from the fate of the old-fashioned bloomers—since it is unfortunately true, that the few extremes in every reform exert a stronger influence to kill the reform, than the many conservative examples can exert for its success.
Modesty in dress is sought by all sensible women, but there are different ideas of modesty. There is a natural modesty and an artificial, in dress as in deportment; but times and circumstances sometimes make them interchangeable. It is immodest to assume an attire, simply that it may attract general attention; while it would not be so for women to unite in wearing—perhaps that very same attire, with the hope of bringing about a much needed reform.
There is certainly just now in our own community, a very great need of this change for our young women, and a very promising outlook for its adoption. But if all who are favorable to it, wait, hoping it may become customary before assuming it, it will never become customary. It is to our young people to whom we must look for this reform. It is truly pitiful to see young girls, early in their teens, purposely assuming the long skirts, from which we have for years sighed for deliverance. Why lay aside the misses' dress, since it is already so similar to the short walking dress? Why not modify it toward that, rather than lengthen the skirt?
It would be well to bring forward a stronger influence toward this reform. It would not take many to establish such a fashion—especially in this community, where there is already so strong a predisposition in its favor and a need so largely felt for its accomplishment.
MARCIA BROWN HOWLAND.
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The serious danger to health incurred by wearing long skirts in rainy weather, has long been present to the minds of women, and caused them to adopt various devices for holding up their dresses. But they did not find in these the relief they longed for, and their misery remained the same, for whatever changes fanciful fashion decreed, one point remained unaltered: the skirt must touch, or barely clear the ground.
And in this lies the peril. We are told that even in fine weather we are storing up ills for our households by bringing home the impure dust of the street, but no microscopical examination is needed to make us aware of the colds we owe to wet skirts. Besides, if we sit for several hours with these damp garments clinging to our ankles, is not the risk of taking cold multiplied? Yet this imprudence is committed on every stormy day by countless women; for example, those who attend our University. Hence it is that so many thoughtful men and women have congratulated the students who introduced storm suits among us.
Another material advantage is the saving of time, and those who have spent valuable hours trying to remove mud stains from their skirts feel thankful to be delivered from this arduous task.
The advocates of a storm dress are therefore numerous, but they differ widely in opinion concerning the length suitable for the skirt. To be really serviceable, it should of course clear the mud well, so that the wearer may not be compelled to grasp it when she is already burdened with books and an umbrella.
To my mind, the suits seen this winter on some of our young women, amply demonstrate that it is possible to adopt a dress which will satisfy the requirements of propriety and even grace, without endangering the health of the wearer. EUGENIE GALLOO.
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The sky is leaden, the great soft flakes of snow, melting before they fairly touch the ground, have long since rendered the appearance of sidewalk and crossing most discouraging, and with a doleful thought of the long, slippery hill before us, we gather up our long skirts with one hand, grasp an umbrella firmly in the other, tuck half a dozen books under our arm, and a handkerchief up one sleeve, thrusting a lead pencil at an artistic angle through our hair (Alas! for these pocketless