WOMAN'S DRESS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 258, 22 March 1913, Page 4

WOMAN'S DRESS.

The <|iiestion of woman's dress is, of course, a subject which mere man must necessarily approach with the utmost diffidence, for it is a sanctity of sanctities which it is almost an impertinence to touch upon. '.Probably the "eternal feminine" hardly realises how much her apparel is discussed by the male insect in the privacy of those, "black and tail" meetings to which she is forbidden entrance. The lords of mankind have probably quite as severe an abhorrence of the modern hobble skirt as their dead and gone forefathers had for its antithesis, the crinoline. Jn the matter of trams and railway trains both arc equally unsubversive to costumary discipline. But though in our masculine capacity we may look askance at .Madame Fashl'on, and wonder at the whimsicalities of her erratic brain, we have not. so far, found it necessary to legislate as to the length of sleeves or the color of the babyribbon in slip bodices. Xo so the State of Ohio, which is nothing if not up-to-date in its American methods. According to a cablegram received the other day, a representative of the Ohio Chamber has introduced a Hill in the State Legislature prescribing the fashions for women throughout Ohio. It is proposed to establish a commission to lix the limits of decollef tc dresses at two inches below the neck. It is to be made unlawful to allow the skin to.show through embroidery, lace or net. The members of the commission are to be men of good moral character, over thirty-one years of age. not being clergymen. The l!ill also prohibits department stores showing undraped figures. This is a comprehensive and daring experiment for a Legislature which has not even the support of the women's vote to sustain it to undertake. But man was always a daring animal. Should the new T?ill become law it will, of course, mean the appointment of an army of inspectors aimed with tnpe-mcasures and microscopes to see tliut its restrictions are carefully observed. lint if the cabled details of the Tiill are correct it will be a most incomplete stalme. Whilst restricting the depth of bodies the measure says nothing of the length of skills, and it is possible to imagine an Ohio lady smothered with statutory garments at the neck and yet displaying her stockings frayed at the knees. '['he whole suggestion is too ridiculous really lo merit -.erioiis consideration. Public opinion is a far betier arbiter in tlice matters (ban legislation can ever hope to be. Ohio may go ahead willi*e\ploilalioii of the gospel of Mrs. Urnmly. but .so far as we are concerned, in this unenlightened corner ol a vorM thai is nn( all American. we are content to iniM our sisters and our s\v.vl!i«iris and our wives to clodie (liems.'lves in g:tnm>n(» (hat- caniiel 011.-iid ihe ino-i la.-( iilioils. even if ihey do not nhva,\s appeal arlMieallv lot he more »!>in»e sex.