Queen Victoria on Crinoline.
Her Majesty has addressed the following remonstrance to the ladies of England: “WINDSOR CASTLE, AUGUST 1, 1863. “LADIES: The Queen has commanded me to express the pain with which her Majesty reads the accounts of daily accidents arising from the wearing of the indelicate, expensive, dangerous and hideous article called crinoline. Her Majesty can not refrain from making known to you her extreme displeasure that educated women should by example encourage the wearing of a dress which can be pleasing only to demoralized taste. For the miserable idiots who abjectly copy the habits of those conventionally termed their betters, it is impossible to entertain anything but pity. But to the ladies of England this appeal to abandon the present degrading, dangerous and disgusting fashion is made in the belief that they will show themselves the rational and decorous persons they are supposed to be. I have the honor to be, ladies, your most obedient and humble servant.”