LADY-FISHERS AND DRESS. 115 



sophers as exercising a powerful effect in moulding the national 

 character, and I am quite satisfied that if English men and 

 women, and those living in town as well as in the country, were 

 to adopt a dress allowing greater freedom and play to the 

 limbs and muscles, and (so far as men are concerned) would 

 discard, once and for all, chimneypot hats, frock coats, leg bags 

 I use the term literally, not in a slangy sense and the other 

 paraphernalia of the bandbox, there would be a marked 

 advance in the manliness and * robustness ' of the race. 



Women who shoot or fish should never hesitate to wear a 

 dress suitable for the purpose ; long skirts are not only con- 

 stantly in the way, but often prove a source of real danger to 

 the wearer. The same remark holds still more true in regard 

 to long riding habits, and if the readers of these lines had seen 

 as many accidents, and hair-breadth escapes from accidents, in 

 the hunting field, as I have, owing to long skirts, they would 

 join in the outcry which ought, in the name of common sense, 

 to be raised against them. However, I am glad to see that 

 there is some improvement of late years in this respect also. 



In arranging a lady's fishing dress, next to the short skirts 

 thick boots more or less waterproof are the most impor- 

 tant item, having regard both to protection and comfort ; but 

 this is precisely the point on which the male adviser finds the 

 greatest difficulty in procuring a favourable hearing for his 

 views. Simply on the score of ' prettiness ' it cannot be said 

 that a stout double-soled shooting or fishing boot is as killing 

 as a Queen Anne slipper, Louis Quinze shoe, or a pair of 

 dainty bottines, expressly designed to set off and emphasise 

 the delicate arch of the instep, whilst displaying the foot and 

 ankle in a position which, if not quite natural, is at least ex- 

 ceedingly picturesque. 



The flower she touched on, dipp'd and rose, 

 And turned to look again. 



But, my dear lady readers if I should be so favoured as to 

 have any do not let it be forgotten that there is ' a beauty of 

 fitness,' and that where really rough work has to be done c ease 



I 2 



