St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-04-18

sexes. Nothing like it has hitherto ex-
listed in this country. Ii Is not the recur-
renee of craze; it is the birth of one
which society Is now experiencing, and In
consequence its symptoms are particularly
virulent 1t Is not many years ago since a
man or woman on horseback. riding on
the avenue, or even i'm Central Park. was an
object OF curiosity, not only TO the
small boy, but to his more sedate
amf phlegmatic elders. The visitors to our
principal pleasure ground who rode in a
| fifty-cent hack over the regulation route,
craned their necks to catch glimpSes of the
equestrians and equestriennes through in
tervening trees, and ranked such apparitions
as part of the programme which included
those marvellous and indescribable works of
art which are scattered through the park.
At present riding through Central Park is
very ordinary pastime, not at all likely to
excite the attention or curiosity of any one
familiar with the upper part of the city.
Riding parties along Fifth avenue are by no
means uncommon. and pretty young ladies,
gracefully robed in habits may be met
at any hour of the day, but par
ticularly in the morning. along the
streets i'm the nighbOrhoOd OF the
Park. After the outward and visible signs
have been noted. of course, no surprise will
be felt. when il is learned that there are a
number of riding schools uptown, all of
them doing a lively and prosperous business.
A few years ago there were two schools.
One was at Twenty-siXth street and Sixth
avenue, where the Racquet club now stands.
The other was at Thirty-ninth street and
Fifth avenue, now the location of the Union
League club. In place of two there are
now at least two dozen. And besides these.
what is the reason of this craze just
now?" was asked of a well-known habit
maker uptown.
1T is simply development of the all
pervading Anglomania now rampant.
Society people who 90 over to England
during the summer and ride on Rotten Row
find that ladies and gentlemen ride. There
is no such sight as Rotten Row displays
| during the season. Then when the same
American goes TO an English country house
the same skill i'm equestrianism is found.
There are hunts, to which everybody rides
farmers as well as gentry. Farmers on the
other side all ride. They don't jump into
an ancient tumble-down buggy, and jolt
and jump over the country roads. They
| get on horseback, and are better and
| healthier and stronger for the eXer-
else. When the travelled American comes
home, he or she is just as enthusi-
astic over riding as over everything that is
positively and genuinely English. And
then they swOop down on the tailors and
tailor dreSsmakers for habits. That is to
say, the lady does. The gentleman, of
course, wants riding trousers and velvet
| jacket. A good habit costs 500. A bad
habit, in whatever sense you may take it,
costs a great deal more. For winter use
they are made of heavy Melton cloths.
just now we are manufacturing them from
elastic cloths which come from the west OF
| England.
at is not the bodice of habit which is
| difficult to make. Any fool who under
stands tailoring can turn that out. 1t is the
| skirt which requires a skilled and expert
enced artist to drape and fit properly. 1t is
not alone necessary to nit the lady, she must
be fitted on horseback. The skirt may
fall gracefully as she walks. But it is not
made for her to walk in. So in fitting heI
we do so while she is seated on large
wooden reproduction of a horse. More
than that is necessary. She must send
down her saddle. The skirt is draped to a
great extent from the rest on the pommel
of her saddle, and the height of this and
its relation to the riders body are of the
utmost Importance. You cannot do more
with habit than to make it fit well.
There isn't much variety possible. We are
now making them open at the neck, TO per-
nit the wearing of scarf and an appro-
priate scarf pin. but outside of this, habits
this year will be very much as they were
last year.
do you think the craze will continue?'
"Oh, yes: it is a sensible one and mag
nificent remedy for the national complaint
dyspepsia. York Mail and Express.