ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on nearly every subject which has in view the possibility of making life easier for women, and enabling them to earn their living under anything approaching the same favourable conditions as men, that the world is apt to be shocked by trifles. When the object is merely folly or decoration, it is marvellous how much is tolerated – witness the lack of clothing in evening dress and the wonderful outlining of the figure in (some) riding habits. It may, however, be news to the ‘Old Sailor’ to learn that the injury to health directly traceable to the ‘sacred mystery’ of the clothes worn by ‘the mothers’ is so great that the medical profession were nearly unanimous in denouncing it. And it thus being one of those subjects which are closely connected with the well-being of the nation, it may with perfect propriety be discussed in public.
