On this page
-
Text (1)
-
48 FASHION VEKSTJS HEALTH.
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
„ -<^3. My Respected Maternal Relative I...
Setting aside the slight difference of opinion which makes me think quiet reasoning would be as efficacious in inducing a change
as any amount of raving _^ we , that is the ghost , medium , and self , most cordially agree when we discuss this particular theme . This
being the case , albeit my years are comparatively few , I will briefly give our united ideas on the subject .
First then , I am much concerned for the little children . The air is often dense with fog , yet so cold , that when we leave the cheerful
fireside and venture out of doors we feel as though we were going into a wellorto speak more mildlyas if a wet blanket had been
, , , wrapped round us . I look from my window on such a raw cold day and in the course of an hour I see many little children pass
it , not one of whom in ten is properly protected from the weather . I shudder as I note the short cotton drawers , often not reaching the
knee , worn by both sexes under seven years of age , or thereabouts , and the still shorter petticoats high enough above the first-named
garments to display the handsome embroidery with which they are decorated . I look below this dainty frilling , often the produce of
many an hour ' s toil which the mother has gladly and proudly devoted to the adornment of her darling , and I see several inches of
blueish mottled flesh between it and the top of the little sock which only just reaches the ancle .
Looking again at the upper dress , I notice that its exceeding shortness contrasts oddly with itsv redundant width . My mother is
also a looker on . She points out the short skirt of the little frock or coatand with withering sarcasm asks of what earthly use that
, frill can be so far as warmth is concerned ! The child stoops . Forthwith the curt , full garment assumes an almost perpendicular
position , and the sole covering of the tiny human biped—one is ready to wishpoor little soul ! that it had feathers—consists of the thin
ootton , drawers which after all cover only a small portion of the body . My parent begins to hold forth in a manner which causes
me to rejoice that her father cannot look up _, and thereby double the torrent of words which she now utters in behalf of both .
I shall not attempt to equal her in eloquence , but , dear ladies , tender mothers , especially you whose position gives you power to
lay down the law in matters of dress , —for it is well known that whatever le is set by " the gentle , _" " the simple " will not
examp fail to follow , —listen to me ; I plead for your little ones , and , in no selfish or interested spiritbeseech you to give their frail bodies
, some more substantial and fitting shelter from the cold . How can you bear to send them out , when the pitiless east wind is ready to
flay their tender limbs , with those poor little limbs uncovered . You love your child , young mother ? Any one can see that who
witnesses the lighting up of your face when he lifts his rosy mouth for akiss . Yet you who have complained of the cold all daythough
, , the ample folds of your warm dress sweep the path as you walk ,
you , I say , condemn this tender little being to face the same degree
48 Fashion Vekstjs Health.
48 FASHION VEKSTJS HEALTH .
-
-
Citation
-
English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), March 1, 1859, page 48, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01031859/page/48/
-