The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-14
WHY MRS. MILLER FAILED
The History Of the Rise and Fall
Of the Divided Skirt
Business.
The Inventor Trusted Her Business
to Others Who Sadly Mis-
managed It.
Tho Fair Apostle OF Dress Reform for
Women Declares That She IL Still
In the Fight to Win.

In the Fight to Win.
NEW YoRK, July 13. - Mrs. Jenness
Miller, the fair apostle OF tho di-
vided skirt. has not given pu her
fight for that much discussed garment by
any means, although it 10 an unquestloned
fact that her enthusiastic efforts in its be-
half received q pronounced check when
the sheriff closed up her Fifth avenue es-
Establishment few weeks Rgo TO satisfy the
claims of numerous creditors. note of
inquiry directed to Mrs. Miller by the
Evening Post correspondent brings the
insurance from her that she is still in the
good work and is going TO stay there. The
failure of the company OF which she was
the head was brought about, she says, not
OH account of any lack of appreciation of
the divided skirt and sundry other in
novations in women's dress cham-
pioned by her, but owing to
the management Of her affairs
by persons upon whom she was compelled
to rely. For some months Mrs. Miller has
been Obliged to seek relief from the cares
of business and to trust the conduct of her
affairs in the keeping OF persons hardly
competent to achieve satisfactory results.
When she was enabled to give her attention
to them again che found them 20 hopelessly
tangled up that the most feasible way of
Strengthening them out appeared to be to
wind up the business and begin all over
p0ain. Thissis what she will do. 1t will
take time, she says, but when her new CON
cern does start up it will be upon a much
more substantial basis than ever before.
The career of Mrs. Jenness Miller and
the divided skirt in New York has been one
Of interest. Mrs. Miller is a native OF Bos-
ton. and conceived the idea of introducing
reformS in vonen's dress while a student
ut the Boston Conservatory, of which she is
a graduate. fhs did not begin her crusade
against prevalent modos however, until she
married Conrad Miller, who. ten years ago,
was one of the leading mefchants Of Evans
vile, Ind. Mr.. Miller was a wealthy man,
and after his talented wife had launched
her pet projects and success seemed as
cured he gave up business to come
with her to New York. the field for
operation here being much more promis-
ing. Mr.. Miller went into Wall street and
Mrs. Miller began to exploit the divided
skirt upon extensive scale. Just about the
time that everything was beginning to work
smoothly in the Gffairs of both Mr.. Miller
got in on the wrong side of the market and,
in the classic parlanoe of 1.-THE street," was
had. Then with Mrs. Miller he turned his
attention to the task Of popularizing the
garments which have bern synonomous
with her name for the last four years.
For year the results cs Sheir efforts were
not a. satisfactory as they could wish, and
the business was carried on in an obscure
street in Harlem. After while the enter
prise developed to such an extent that
monthly magazine called Dress, devoted to
artistic clothing, physical culture of which h
Mrs. Miller's sister. Miss Mabel Jenness, is
the leading exponent, and other matters of
interest to women was started. This pub
lication was small atfair.at first, but it be-
came popular, and six months ago enjoyed
circulation of nearly 10000, it it said, and
WAS the most profitable part of tho busi-
ness In addition the company sold pat
terms OF all sorts of garments, made in the
styles projected by Mrs. Miller, and the
dainty silk divided skirts which gained Mrs
Miller the most celebrity, and combined
under ono head more than ten distinct de-
partments, each of which was devoted to
womsn's dress and toilet. Some of the
best known writer's were engaged to con-
tribute to the magazine and when, two
years ago, Mrs. Miller moved her numerous
enterprises from HIS rlem down to promi-
nent location on Fifth avenue she seemed
on the high road to everlasting fame and
great fortune. She employed more than a
SCORE of people, and besides keeping track
of their doinRs made an annual tour of the
country lecturing upon the virtues of
healthy and becoming clothing. In doing
so she displayed more fine raiment than
women in the ordinary walks OF life had
ever seen. A year ago she went over to
England and created something of sensa-
tion among tho British dress reformers by
displaying and explaining the garments she
had introduced here. She was feted and
received by the best people, and following
her visit the divided skirt had an extensive
sale on the other side.
Shortly after her return Mr.. Miller broke
down from orerwork and was compelled to
seek relief from the burdens OF her many
enterprises and retire to a sanltarium in the
interior of this state, where she still re-
mains. Her hoalth ia improving, she SAWS,
and she has already written the greater
portion of book upon artistic clothing
which is shortly to DO published by lead
ing publisher in this city. The affairs of
her company are now being disentanoled
and she expects to come forth again in
short time equipped to resume the battle.
Since the failure of the company Mrs.
Miller has received many offers OF assist.
anoe from friends and admirers, bat she
has declined all of them, preferring to make
her struggle alone. She is woman of in
finite resources and believes that she will be
able to recruit her fortunes without assist
ance. In the meantime the magazine will
be discontinued for the present. The gar
ments introduced by Mrs. Miller will be
handled by western firm which has been
manufacturing them for some months past.