The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-21
MRS. KR6lGER'S vow.
She Wears Trousers while Costly femi-
nine Attire Hangs i'm Her Closets.

"Say, what Kind of people are those folks
on the ranch about three miles back
asked dusty stranger, as he drove into
san Pablo yesterday.
"rhere are lots Of ranches three miles
back" answered the resident.
"Well. I'll tell you what happened 10 me.
and maybe you'll know the place. was
driving along about a mile this side of Pi-
mole. and | saw somebody IN blue jumper
shoyeling Just inside the fence hy the road
side. lie didn't pay any attention to me,
and landed a shOyelful Of dirt right IN front
Of my horse. The horse reared back, ana
as soon a. he got quiet ] started M to curse
the shoyeler. He didn't pay any attention
10 that, and | got out 10 lick him. Wei. !
didn't do it. That fellow just looked into
nv face. and if ii wasn't woman I'll eat
house and lot. She wore trousers and a
Jumper and "A mans hat, and she was
spading up the soil in great shape; but her
long hair was flying about her mead, and
her face was rs placid as any grandmother
you ever met.
"She wasn't prize beauty by any means.
but-wcll. you can fancy how yellow would
feel after swearing and jumping out of a
buggy 10 LICK "a woman
"Oh, that was Mrs. krcigcr. She al
WAYS dresses that way said the resid ent.
81 thought everybody in these parts knew
| her"
Mrs. Kreigcr has lived On-a ranch ON the
san Pablo road for over fifteen wears. and
during that time she has not worn the ordi-
nary apparel of woman. 80 accustomed
| have the people of that vicinity become 10
her and her strange dress that they no
| longer notice It.
| SUI. Mrs. kreiger is no woman's rcht.
I L.. ,,o, Ill Gf 1rls. rllIIm ii
doubtful if she ever even heard Of Mrs. Jen-
ness-Millcr or Mrs. Bloomer, and If yon
mentioned Lady llabbenon or the divided
skirt 10 her She would not know what you
meant.
I'p to fifteen years ago Mrs. kreiger wore
| skirts and dresses like any other Of her sex.
Indeed, it appears that she had more Of
them. and that they were of more NariDc
forms. textures. and cOl0rs. than are usual.
possessed by farmers wives.
II was shortly before the change in her
manner Of dressing that she married VIII
liam kreiger. thrifty German farmer and
widower. and went to live on the ranch.
For while there was absolute peace and
concord between them. but it did not last.
Mrs. krciger had lust laid in her winter
supply of tea gowns, winter dresses, anu
dinner toilets. not 10 mention some ducks
of wrappers, and pretty soon the bills De-
gan to come in.
Crops had not been all they might have
been. potatoes had gone down j. cent q
pound. and an epidemic of pip had swept
over the poultry yard. hrclger did MOI
mind paving SIG for poem of red silk, and
"A pea-green demi-toilet for Sl3 did not shake
him, but when one after another the accounts
for yellow calico, blue gingham, and Other
tokens of vanity and pride were rendered
he began 10 grow gloomy and ticiturn. "a
lose his.appetite and sleep uneasily. Bul
il was not until the returns from the milf
ners came in that he complained. After
however, giving the price OF three sprlh-
chickens for darling OF bonnet, ana q
whole sack Of turnips for mere spot of a
straw hat. with some ribbons and other iiN
ings on il. hc Ncntured 10 eSpOstulatc.
lie told how the Mrs. kreiger that had
been had worn the same calico dress iol
sundays for two years, and now the same
dress had served as second best for a like
space and then lasted at least like time l.
work i'm and that there was even tner
enough 10 make over for the little girl. lie
pointed out how the paragon that had been
worn the same hat she had when he married
her during all the years Of their welded
life and had never breathed demand iOi
another.
Mrs. kreiger stood it meekly for awhile
Then she blazed out and declared that sin &C
he was SO stingy about it she would not civ,
him any more chance 10 complain about
her dresses. She then made a dreadful VOW
never TO wear dresses again.
And she hasn't.
The bright-hued garments were packed
away in two trunks. and they are there yet
The Kreigers are well of now. They have
a fine ranch OF eighty or one hundred acres
and money i'm bank. Men who know them
say that krciger is worth at least $4,000
Mrs. kreiger, during all these years, has
kept house, and helped on the farm in mems
garments. Her usual costume j. "A duck
Jumper" and pair Of her husbands worn
out trousers.
She is not proud and works in the field az
well as her husband. Naturally she doe.
not 90 into society much. In fact, she i.
rather retiring. She has few. il any. vsi
tors. and never goes to town. When she
wants the butcher or any other tradesmaI
10 call for an order she hangs out iiag in
the road. This signal they all understand
and drive to the house To lind out what j.
wanted
An Examiner reporter drove out 10 the
kreiger ranch the other day. IL is about q
mile from PinOle. on the left side Of the road
The farmhouse is back several hundred
feet from the highway, an avenue bOrderet
by popars leading from the road to the
door. The house is IA little white cottage
The place is not particularly tidy, and Their,
appeared to be nothing living about II but
Il vicious yellow dog. just inside the door
way, however, strange figure was seated
Ii was Mrs. krieger.
She appeared TO be- about forty-iye year.
old, and was engaged in some knitting OF
similar work. She wore her customary
jumper and n pair Of trousers patched in
various places with pieces of grain bags.
She was not disturbed al all by the visit
but merely ran her hand through hel
tOusled hair and indicated that she did moi
speak English.
Whether she could not, or merely did MOI
care to, she didn't, and presently she wen
about her housewOrk without even "A secon,
look at her visitor.
The neighDors say they have frequently
expostulatcd with her for ner Outlandisl
garb, but she only answered that she hat
made her VOW and did not propose to break
IN San Eraueiseo Examinar