Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1879-07-05
Women Need Pockets.

The Methodist puts in a plea S'r The more
general use Of pockets by women. and quotes
from Hdrpcr's Bd-ddr the story OF boy who,
when brought before the Judge tor snatchiu.
a pocket-book from young lady, said he was
hungry and could find nothing TO do. aud
added Z" The lellers all says to me. says they,
Jimmy. why don Z YOU learn the finger hns,-
ness and grab pockethooks from these here
women as goes around shown them aud
temptin' such hungty fellers as you and
thought Ia Just Try il for once but | got
uipped and won't DO it agaia." The hefhcd-
Isl SAYS: THE remark is oi,en made There
is no excuse for such careessness; woman
can Just as well carry her money in safe
place as a man can This is certainly tho
way the average man feels about il; but IS It
qniie true Is there not some excuse The
feminine system of pockets Is wretehedly
measre and deficient, and stands greatly IN
need of reform We hope the attention now
being attracted to the sulisct may induce an
effort in that direction. lok f1r moment
at the immense difference both in number and
convenience between the pockets IN n mans
dress and in a womans Coats, over and un-
der. each with four or five pockets; vest
rockets of 90 equal number, outside and in
side; pantalooms, with their side, hip and fob
pockets. making MS many as twenty which a
man may wear az one time, every one OF them
safer aud more convenient than any which
woman can boast She may have IN hor cloak
-. depends entirely On iAe style Of the gar
mcn,-two shallow, wile-morthed pockeis.-
In the body of her dress possibly watch
pocket has been Inserted or appended, under
4 -, 4 aiso~ sirna la the 1Dru
closely moulded basque now worn pocket
makes an uusghtly bunch on its smooth sur
face. The idea Of clinging fatty TO the figure
extend. 70 the skirt Of the dress, and there u
really DO pocketable territory until low down
and far backward little iullness in the dra-
pcrv allows of departure from the severe
outline Even then tue pocket must he orna-
menied or II must not be ard patch Of pun
ings or plaitiugs, trimmed with bdttons and
bows. is set iauutily on one side but il is
receptacle 10 which nothing more valuable
than handkerchief ought 10 be entrusted
Where. then, can woman safely carry her
purse In the underskri--the real skirt
there is a pocket, which might he useful but
for certain impedimonts. With the long.
clnging oversklrt rigiGly drawn and fastened
backward, completely covering It, tits a salc
pocket-so safe aud SO very difficult Of access
that the wearer Is always tempted not to nso
il at all 1he careful and prudent, who are
reckless cf appearances, defy impcdimcnis and
use it comrtimcs; but the physical difficulties
To he overcome are great, aud the effort u
always unsmceful and sorneiimcs ridiculous.
Where, as in the city, the purse is IN con-
slant requistion. the difficulties amount TO a
practical prohibition. We would recommend
carrying, for small expenses, snail sums IN q
more convenient if .oss secure place. Men
who provide the money ior feminine expenses
woull like TO secure the cooperation OF every
sensible woman in the land IN demanding OF
the fashion-makers and the dressmakors great
or safety, convenience and number ~ these
very desirable appcndages Of woman's gar
menis."