When I first went abroad and saw young girls going about in the streets with their hair falling loose over their shoulders, I was a little shocked.

I thought how careless their parents must be to allow their girls to go out in that untidy state.

Later, finding that it was the fashion, I changed my mind, until by degrees I came to think that it looked quite nice; thus do conventionality and custom change one's opinions.

But it should be remembered that no custom or conventionality which sanctions the distorting of nature, or which interferes with the free exercise of any member of the body, can ever be called beautiful.

It has always been a great wonder to me that American and European ladies who are by no means slow to help forward any movement for reform, have taken no active steps to improve the uncouth and injurious style of their own clothes.