The Dickinson press., 1888-12-22
PLEA FOR THE POCKET.
A MATTER IN WHICH THE UNFAIR
SEX HAVE THE ADVANTAGE.

A Crying Need of all Women-The Haudi.
cap Under Which They Run tho Race
of Life-A Problem for Dress Re-
formers.
In all the talk about dress reform no one
seems to make plea for pockets Nothing
is more needed for feminine convenience.
not to say comfort than an innovation in
this direction. In fact, so vexcd question
is this one of pockets-or, rather where to
put pockets-that many women have been
forced during the late tying hack of skirts to
do without them altogether Now, if this
dress reform is going to take the hold upon
popular opinion that it threatens we should
consider tho possibility of convenient as well
as comfortable dress.
What can be more laughable than to see a
charming, well dressed and generally grace
tul woman walking along laden with Eer
pocketbook and q package of letters and n
small bundle in one hand, an umbrella antla
book in the other, which also is clutchine
frantically with aching fingers at the back
OF her skirts. Suppose she wishes to raise
her umbrella, what is she to do with tn. con.
tents of either hand while she uses the other!
Generally she stops, drops her skirt, slips
pocketbook, bundle and book under the left
arm, letters go into the book or just as often
into the mouth, and the great feat of raising
an umbrella being thus with difficulty accom-
pished, the procession moves on-for 1her: IS
usually friend or two with her when mila iy
thus stops the way. Could anything be more
clumsily arrungcdl
WHAT MAN DOES.
What docs n man do ,ladcr like circum
stancesa In the first place his pocke,booi
lies snugly ensconced i'll pocket in his trous.
crs, either on the side or in the back where
the loose skirts of his coat conceal it wholly
from view, where he can reach it in II mo,
mens when occasion requires 1t would
amuSe him beyond tc!,!;ls to have it sug
eesicl that he Should walk down the street
with his pocketbook in his hand, moreover
his need for it is not over recurring, FOR lie
has another little pocket right III the outside
of his coat, where small change is handy
ana anything, rs ungainlv as fifty cent pieces
and cartwhcels are dropped into trousers
pocket. Then the package of letters for the
mail will slip into breast pocket of his Goa
and the book, if it is small enough for Il wo
man to carry, will also bo small enough to
so into n side ovcrcoat pocket. while the
other will hold the small bundle Thus, since
he has no skirts to carry, he swl!l-s along
with his umbrella furled or uuturlel as H..
tnay desire, hands free to lift himself into
street cars, TO open doors, or to pick up bun
dies for pocke,leSs women
Men laugh and snccr at women for having
small packages delivered by the wagons tLs
shops employ for that purpose; but it is %
laughing matter. With no pocket in which
to put 1t, even so small bundle us one tiny
veil will make ofttimcs becomes a decided
nuisance. What can bo done about it.
We'll, until the dress refornlcrs take hold OF
the question AID make radical changes, We
must insist upon drcssmakcrs giving lis OH.
accessible whcrc-you know -whcrc-it-is but
well concealed pocket in the skirts of til /.
dress and a small pocket for change in the
bodice rs we'll rs in the jacket; and they
mist be compelled to have the skirt short
enough to need no lifting when its wcarc.s
arc walking. y short dress should clear the
ground by ut least two inches, no matter if i.
cuts OIL t!c appearance of height in the
i.sulc and does show the feet all round
There is no comfort unless it does.
WHAT is NEEDED.
Then we should cling with desperation to
fashion o. two or three years ago rclntro
dnccl i!!3s SeaSon-tl!e wearing of leather
az! vcN : bags, Hiorc or less enriched by
silver "iiAI::eni;:,ion, suspended from the
waia'. T.Msa viii hold as much as two
pockets and should never again be rclceatca
TO c.osct shelves or pacI.iM, trunks, ba:
s''o".d !''r::!c - mI.icli IL matter of cours.
t'"i'e OF tc! .!ilie attire rs Il l!at or Il pair o.
secs Nor iced tneY always remain in Oh.
l"i;h here Is iaGt rs much possibility OF
variation III tie shape and style of bags US iii
the aforesaid bonnets ard shoes.
Let us suppose woman has such con
vcniemces and starts down town with the
above mentioned packages. She will put
rockctbook. letters aud bundle into the bag.
thus st'tlins, 1t out so full that it becomes
quito as ugly US tie bulginS of n pocket in n
'naii's coat. Ills is because she is not used
to pockets enough and has not learned how
To utilize item
sjhc shouid start having her dress short
enough to iced 10 attention, her handler,
Chief and pocietbook in the dress pocket,
Gcr bundle and letters in her bag, and her
small change in u little packet in her waist
coat CT jacket. Then she has nothing in her
hand but parasol and book, and certainly she
can manage these without awkwartlncss or
mishap
sSti.! She is pretty sure to leave the book on
some counter, and bota time and temper are
LOST IL recovering it, all which could be
avoided if 81" co;ild only contrivc to have
some oae nee fat place i'll Ler dress, where
she could haze jut o!.e lar?.c wide n.outhed
pocket where Il booi or anything of that size
con!& slip il.~''S. S. L. NJ in Chicago
Herald
Courtesy Toward Dumb Creatures.