RATIONAL DRESS.
[To THE EDITOR. OF THE " SPECTATOR:1 Sin,—We have heard a good deal lately about "rational dress," and we are promised one, if not two, exhibitions of it this year; but as everybody does not go to exhibitions, and as, moreover, an exhibition is rather calculated to convey to ignor- ant minds, the idea of something not intended for every-day use, I am anxious to suggest a method of propagating the new doc- trines which, if the ladies who preach them are really in earnest, will no doubt be very easily carried out. It is this :—Let every woman who, either in print or- on any platform, has ever urged upon any other women the foolishness, or unhealthiness, or immorality of the present style of dress, assume at once a cos- tume strictly in conformity with " rational " rules, and let her wear it for the next two months, in every public place or private assembly. Supposing fifty ladies, or even less, to do this, most people in London would have an opportunity of seeing what "rational dress" really is, and of judging, the women for themselves, the men for their wives and daughters, whether it ought to be adopted. But there must be no half- measures, no compromising with vicious fashions. We are told that all shoes should have flat soles and broad toes, that all waists should be as guiltless of restraint as that of the Medicean Venus, that sleeves should be roomy, skirts straight, and bonnets fit to protect the head effectually from sun and wind, and a great many other things which I, for one, should like to see exemplified, not only on the persons of young and pretty girls who look well in anything, but on the more mature ladies who have hitherto done the talking and writing, and who are, naturally, the persons to show the world the excellence of the new way. Perhaps, if you are good enough to print this letter, my suggestion may reach the proper quarter, and who knows bat we may presently begin to meet rationally dressed ladies at
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