Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 April 1893 — THE FAIR SEX. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE FAIR SEX.

Miss Kate Levan, of Berks county," Pa., a young lady of sixteen, drives the daily mail bctwnon Princeton and Fleetwood, and can manage a four-horse team with as much skill as any man in the county. Tt is said that the engraved stones and monuments of the British Museum prove that woman’s dress and headgear are almost preciselv the same as those of the woman of Babylon at the-time of the flood. NiW DRESS REFORM GARMENTS. The dress reformers of the Woman’s National Council have fully formulated their plans for the utility costumes to be adopted by progressive women who are tired of fashion’s follies and vagaries. As it is the purpose to introduce these gowns to the world at the World’s Fair, members of the council in various parts of the country are getting them in readiness, and occasion-

ally a woman is found courageous enough to appear in public with the new outfit without waiting for support that comes with numbers. Several costumes are recommended by the council. One is called a Syrian dress, and consists of a blouse and very voluminous trousers fastened at the knee but overhanging and reaching about half way to the ankle. The general appearance is similar to that of the costume now in use in many girls’ gymnasiums. The regular gymnasium dress is recommended as a house dress for busy women. Two others, of which representations are herewith give,n, seem to have preference among the enterprising

ladies as street costumes. The first has a short waist and short skirt, and appears to be intended as a modification of the empire gown, now favored by fashion. The other differs from the ordinary street dress only in having a short and narrow skirt, the regulation length bringing it three or four inches below the knee. Leggins, made of the materir al of the dress and reaching to the knee, are worn with both these street dresses. —- FOR EARLY SPRING. A costume for early spring shows the full umbrella skirt in ohcline silk. Each seam is defined with a narrow cording of velvet. The silk is of a dull green color, with cordings of golden brown. The silk bodice is made with deep revers in the form of the Victorian berthe and outlined with a narrow band of the velvet. The bodice has in exquisite vest of shirred golden Drown crepe with a green silk iin • *g.

The Sleeve, which slopes off from the shoulder, has a generous puff of green silk, with a deep cuff of brown velvet. The waist is encircled with a corselet belt made of folds of green silk and fastened with a dull gold buckle. A parasol of green crepe de Chine is carried with the costume. It is decorated with graduated ruffles of brown and creamy chiffon. The bonnet has a soft, full crown bf green silk, with the brim of finely plaited brow chiffon. At the back is % cluster of mignonette. The tie itrings are es green velvet

THE AMERICAN COSTUME.

THE STREET COSTUME.