THE FASHION OF MODESTY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 257, 17 February 1877, Page 3

THE FASHION OF MODESTY.

(Field.) Modesty is in itself an abstract sen'inient. The practical observation of what art- locally considered tUe requirements of meth-sty is purely a relative question, tlepending upon the tastes, customs, and susceptibilities of the population of a place. External influence and comforts may have natch to do in laying down a local code of what are considered the requirements of modesty. A savage, in tropical climate, does not blush if accommodated with garments to the ercLmfc of a waisteloth. An I'!s<triiuiauX, compelled by olimate to wear substantial clothing at all times, would, apart from the physical suffering of semi-nudity, feel mo-ally shce'eed if compelled to undergo it. A Mbli'.miruedan vei's her face and covers and bosom, but display** co.piett'm trousers and trim ankles. A Hurop'j'ivn dame may expose all her fa.ee and three parts of her bush, but must not, the k mm. nfripf.'i of her tocal society, show Jk .• ankles, still less parade in trousers as W normal and ordinary state of costume ; but while she would shudder it hunched into a drawing-room iu a pair of serge inexpressibles and a tunic, with bare feet and auUes, even though, the male occupants of the room may be among her moat intimate friends, she does not consider that she violates propriety if she exhibits herself in bathing attire, regulated according to the manner and customs of the watering-place where she takes her bath. la England, <'.[/., while ladies will not parade themselves on the sands in dripping attire that, close-clinging, but sets oil' the witonr og the frame which it is supposed, to veil ; the male population (fill lately ovury where, and- still insom.' less fashioujiblo resorts) could disport themselves in utter nudity among the breakers not a hundred yards from the throng of momhu; loungers on a beach, and, from force of custom, no scandal was supposed to uxist at the exhibition. On the Continent and in. America,, the lad its are less to. •sewed, the gentlemen more so, iu their ulcus of propriety iu bathing. The former will parade and- gossip with male acquaintiiuoc, relied in the scanty wardrobe of the biitlvf the latter adopt clothing as eouu pletc in its way as that of r.hcir fair companions, before they exhibit themselves to the curious eyes of spectators. A n actress, lot us say <>£ unimpeachable fame, will play hev part without flinching m male attire in burlesque or opera, nxul exhibit I tin* well-turned limbs in silk tights and hose a, hi, Henry V££t. r to the admiration and criticism of even the Whitcehapet "gods" iu the gallery; yet, if asked to Join n, supper-party, non-professional, an hour later, wearing the same costume inHfcuiul of her ordinary mufti, would; feel herself grossly insulted. If a gentleman came to an evening or dinner-party with a shivt as t!<'t«>H>>te as that of an ordinary bluejacket, allowing all the contour of his neck and collar, he would be cous'ideml to violate proper prudery, and the tadie* woi-'d '<:;Vt,t to blush and turn away their h- . ; . they at the same moment .(!.' gft.nv a far larger expanse of neefc ■'■'" 'oaooi, without arritre pmrn. inih&

I United States, especially before the days of Abolition, the same curiously relative ideas of the refinements of decency were prominent. For a slave to be seen scantily attired, or for a child of color to parade in utter nudity, was a matter of no moment even among an assembly of educated whites: The sight was so customary that tt produced n»» more effect than the natural nudity of one of the brute creation ; but a similar rj-.po*?. on the part of a white individual would have evoked a general exclamation of scandal. It needs hut a glance at Leech's sketches of life and character fifteen or twenty years ago, to recall the extreme length at which those " inexpressible " garments were then worn by tadies. The least elevation of skirt in stepping over a ptiddle displayed the edge ♦>f a pantaloon atmo.it as low a* the ankle. For a lady not to show the lower cud of this sort of raiment might have bean construed to imply that she was neglectful of wearing them at aft. Fashion has tumed, and not only grown ladies, but even small, short-skirted children, now carefully avoid showing trie lea.it trace of these mystetiuis nt\djt-ganuents. To wear them in fch.so dayrf so" long that they could be pere/ivtd ott ordinary occasions, would be interpreted as an unnecessary reminder of the existence of raiment which is now sought to he cut short from sight and from db'-pttsition. Trie low-neekcd costume of full evening dtvss for tadhs found its way first into European society in the days when Courts set a public example of licentiousness : it hart unconsciously held its own to these d:iyx of comparative chastity at Courts. But had it never gained'a footing in tunes' when ladies were more prodigal of then- charms, wo much doitht if it would have been capable of introduction in thes_> times. As a matter of conventionality, when analysed, it cannot but strike anyone as curious that a lady, white so prudish about even her ankle joints, should be so lavish of her bust. To the pure alt thing may be pure, and we do not impty that the present fashion of toleration of a more than half naked female bust in the evening has any material ett'ect in sapping the innate ( modesty of young girls. Wo" rather look at the matter from an opposite point of view, and argue that, if conventionality cnabl. s us to tolerate t'-ts style of dress with any feeling of indel'caey, it must be conventionality, and not any real necessity of propriety, that prevents a lady from abandoning the side-saddle, wearing boots and breeeius in the huutitig-furld. or from adopting lUoomef costume at rinks or at lawn teums. We have no wish to urge upon any lady that site should make herseli." conspicuous hy such a mede "f procedure : cotispiencu-'.ness tit dress, oven if the divs*. tts.-ii fulfils all ivtptitvmenrs of decerny, l-i in itself a tir-U step towards a disregard »:' the claims of modesty. N\ c are content to point to current fashions in this ?ud in less eivih.vd countries, and to compare one with atioth'T, :ts a proof that the fu.V'ious of mode.ityatv ! upon relative ratiter than upon positive principles.