THE SPREAD OF CIVILIZATION AND CRINOLINE.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 27, 10 February 1863, Page 3

THE SPREAD OF CIVILIZATION AND CRINOLINE.

The Empress Eugenie, the great patroness of the, and the reputed creator of crinoline, has been sending a present of the latter article to the daughters of King Radama. Madagascar being a half-savage country, crinoline will soon become natualised amongst the natives, for in sad truth it is a fashion only fit for savages. We are told that " Ihe joy of the princesses knew no bounds when the trunks were opened." Such was their exultation that we suppose the young ebony beauties perormed a wild triumphal march around it. accompanied with the joyous clapping of hands, and Ojihbeway shrieks of delight. It must have resembled a may-day dance of sweeps around a Jack-in-the-Green, the framework of which the monster hoop would not inaptly resemble in shape. The same report continues to state — "The crinolines, which are capable of expanding far beyond the ordinary limits of those worn in France or England, are the objects of universal admiration among all the Malgache ladies who have been able to see them. A French officer says that " one of Padnma's daughters has decided on wearing " the cage" she received from Paris over, instead of beneath her skirts, Her swarthy highness thinks that the n-echa-nism is too complex to be concealed, and whole thing 100 pretty and too wonderful not to be displayed." The wearing of it outside would be only turning the absurd invention to its right use. The absurdity would then become so transparent that eveiy one would be ashamed of being seen with it. The wearing it might be make a kind of punishment being a capitalsubstituie for the " cage ;" or, to invent it with still greater disgrace, why not make a prisondress of it, to be Worn (outside, of course) by all female convicts, &c. ? K'a few spirited ladies would adopt the above plan, the habit might gradually expire, being ultimately killed under a volley of ridicule. It is time it was killed, consider in« the number of deaths it has been the cruel cause of. In Thursday's paper were recorded two more cases. Two more victims peri.shed in the flames. No pagan idol of the present day probably receives so many burnt-offerings as are yearly paid at the t'hrine of folly to this wicked fashion. If still tolerated, there ought to become stringent police regulation, inflicting a heavy fine on all ladies donning it, unless their dress was proved to be perfectly fireproof.