BLOOMERISM — MRS. DEXTER IN EDINBURGH.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 621, 27 March 1852, Page 4

BLOOMERISM — MRS. DEXTER IN EDINBURGH.

[Fioin (lie " Edinburgh Advertiser."] Last night a numerous assemblage, embracing a goodly spnnkling of the gentler sex, were attracted to the Music Hall, in the expectation of seeing a " real live Bloomer," in ibe person of Mrs. C. H. Dexter, who bos acquired no small degree of notoriety from ber public appearances in London as the advocate of the new costume. The admission was by ticket, and the Hall was nearly filled. On her appearance on the platform, Mis. Dexter was received wi h the most outrageous applause, mingled with slight hisses from the more ungallant portion of the audience. She appears to be a lady upwards of thirty years of age, of a not unprepossessing appearance. She wore a black dress, consisting of an upper garment resembling a gentleman's paletot, which reached a little below the knee, with loose " continuations" of black satin tied close fit the ancles, and immediately above the boots. She doffed her gipvv-like bonnet on her appearance, and after bowing to the audience, promenaded the platform with a jaunty air till the commotion with which she was received had somewhat settled down. The fair lecturer was allowed to proceed with less interruption than might have been expected, which may be attributed to the good humour which she manifested throughout. After a suitable exordium, in u hich she spiritedly maintained woman's right to judge for herself in matters affecting her health and comfort, the affair threatened to become dull and tedious, as she discoursed on the extravagances of the present female dress, and argued in favour of the new costume. It was redeemed however, by the naive appeals which were scattered throughout — now to the female, and then to the male portion of the audience. " Oh, my lady friends (exclaimed Mrs. Dexter, after describing the spectacle of " long skirts on a dirty day") the g-enlleraen often laugh in their sleeves at you, but they have not the honest confidence to tell you so. We have been di earning, ladies, during the reign of long petticoats !" In the course of her denunciation of the "street-sweeping machines," sbe disgressed a little to inveigh against " those instruments of torture called stays ;" and some of the audience having the inhumanity to treat the matter lightly, she pathetically repioved them — u Ab, you gentlemen have never been braced up in stays — you Inow nothing about it." The lady reformer then went on to appeal to gentlemen l( as the objects of their hearts'' love — as the beings created by nature to be their partners through life — to lend their aid in advancing the cause, and, as their protectors, to defend them from unmerited annoyance and vulgar insult. Mrs. Dexter then rebutted the charge of novelty brought against the new costume ; and triumphantly reminded her auditors that there were millions of women wearing " trowsers and short petticoats" at the present day, it being only in Europe that the men would not allow ladies that kind of dress which was most comfortable and convenient. Some ladies, she said, thought she bad taken a bold step in endeavouring to propagate so indelicate a fashion, as they called it. She allowed that she had done so ; she believed she was the first who ventured to appear in London in the reformed costume ; and (continued Mrs. Dexter boldly) whether it be adopted by ladies generally or not, I intend to continue to wear it. Loud applause, and "bravos," accompanied this declaration. She contended that the great recommendation of the new costume was "its peculiar modesty ;" and after pointing out what she thought was the contrary characteristics of the present apparel, she set herself to invoke the "investigating spirit of the philosophy of the age" to apply itself to the articles of dress. After presenting what she called a "summary of the general argument," she concluded by again appealing to " the couiteous and kindly feeling of the gentlemen" to aid the cause of JBloomerism. Mrs. Dexter was, on the whole, well received throughout — the lady being evidently determined to continue on the best of terras with the audience. At the conclusion, she retired amid the most vocifetous cheering. The meeting then quietly dispersed — amused, if not edified by the proceedings.

Bloomerism— Mrs Dexter m Glasgow. — A lecture upon the rationality of the Bloomer costume was delivered in the City Hall, Glasgow, on Monday night, to a crowded audience, tbe great majority of whom were of the male sex, with a few strong-minded women uear tbe front seats. The address was generally applauded throughout, exclamations of disapprobation being checked by the gallantry of the male portion of the audience rather than by any conviction of the propriety of the sentiments delivered.