San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-11-29
PLEA FOR THE POCKET.
A MATTER IN WHICH THE UNFAIR
SEX HAVE THE ADVANTAGE.

cap Under Which They Run the Race
of Life-A Problem for Dress Re-
formers.
In all the talk about dress reform no one
seems to make a plea for pockets. Nothing
is more needed for feminine convenience,
not to say comfort, than an innovation in
this direction In fact so vexed 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
as comfortable dress
What can be more laughable than to see a
charming, well dressed and generally grace
ful woman walking along laden with her
pocketbook and a package of letters and
small bundle in one hand, an umbrella and
book in the other, which also is clutching
frantically with aching fingers at the back
Of her skirts Suppose she wishes to raise
her umbrella, what is she to do with the con-
tents of either hand while she uses the otheri
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-
plished, the procession moves on-for there is
usually friend or two with her when milady
thus stops the way. Could anything be more
clunsily arrangeds
WHAT A MAN DOES.
What does a man do under like circum-
stances? In the first place his pocketbo
lies snugly ensconced in 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 a mo-
ment when occasion requires. 1t would
amuse him beyond telling to have it sug-
gcsted that he should walk down the street
with his pocketbook in his hand; moreover
his need for it is not ever recurring, for he
has another little pocket right in the outside
of his coat, where small change is handy,
and anything as ungainly as fifty cent pieces
and cartwheels are dropped into q trousers
pocket. Then the package of letters for the
Clail will slip into breast pocket of his coat,
and the book, If it is small enough for wo-
nan to carry, will also be small enough to
so into q side overcoat pocket, while the
other will hold the small bundle. Thus, since
he has no skirts to carry, he swings along
with his umbrella furled or unfurled as he
may desire, hands free to lift himself into
street cars, to open doors, or to pick up bun
dies for poCketless women.
Men laugh and sheer at women for having
small packages delivered by the wagons the
shops employ for that purpose; but it is no
laughing matter. With no pocket in which
10 put it, even So small u bundle as one tiny
veil Will make ofttimes becomes a decided
nuisance. What can be done about itl
Well until the dress refOrners take hold of
the question and make radical changes, We
must insist upon dressnakcrs giving us one
accessible where-you ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS but
well concealed pocket in the skirts of thu
dress, and a small pocket for change in the
bodice as well as In the jacket; and they
must be compelled TO have the skirt short
enough to need no lifting when its wearers
are walking. A short dress should clear the
Ground by 1t least two inches, no matter if it
cuts off the appearance of height i'll the
Ggure and does show the feet all round
There is no comfort unless it does.
WHAT Is NEEDED.
Then we should cling with desperation to
a fashion Of two or three years ago reintro-
GuCed this season-tlle wearing of leather
and velvet bags, more or less enriched by
silver orDamentatiOn, suspended from the
waist These will hold as much rs two
pockets and should never again be relocated
to closet shelves or packing trunks, but
should become as much matter of course
part of feminine attire as hat or a pair OF
shoes. Nor need they always remain in one
form. There is just as much possibility Of
variation in the shape and style of bags as in
the aforesaid bonnets and shoes
Let US suppose woman has such con-
veniences and starts down town with the
above mentioned packages. She will put
pocEetboOk, letters and bundle into the bag,
thus stufing it out so full that it becomes
quite as ugly as the buiging of pocket in a
mans coat This is because she is not used
to pockets enough and has not learned how
to utilize them.
She should start, having her dress short
enough to need no attention, her handker-
chief and pocketbook in the dress pocket,
her bundle and letters I'm her bag, and her
srnaQ clanrs " 4. iiasi.SS :>s,St la har waist