St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-02-06
THE DlcYcLe GIRL

wv xNO L OANS IA
THE BIcycLe GIRL
shs 10 - Iaterrsting Creatsre-so0s q
Her lso0A Points.
One Of tho raciest products OF the
wave Of modern progress Is the bicycle
girl. She sits her steel horse precisely
q her brother sits his, and establishes
thereby the lopged-for equality OF the
sexes which the women's clubs have
argued themselves black in tho face to
bring about but in vain She wears .
more hyeienic sgarb than the dress re-
formers have ever dreamed of In their
most inspired moments She could give
q univeraity graduate points on deter
mination and equilibrium of mentality.
She Is q healthy animal, both physically
and mentally. The girl who takes
ten-mile spin in the sun every fair day
doesn't have time for morbid, malarial
dreams Of the worthlessness of life
She doesn't fancy she is misunderstood
and solitary. She doesn't let her mind
wobble and careen to the one side or
the other any more than she does her
machine. for she knows It means disas-
ter. She 10 direct resolute, plucky.
well balanced and sensible, and these
are the qualities most essential to
woman's success in life. whether life
means to her darniug babies stockings
or lecturing on political economy.
The first evidence Of the character
development duo to tho exercise will
be . realizing sense Of the absurdity of
trying to accomplish anything worthily
and well In conventional attire. It
will only require two or three spills
and tho ruin OF two or three gowns to
rid the rider of the dress thralldom
and set her to thinking slong new lines
on the subject of attire. She will make
many mistakes at first but rarely does
she fail TO hit upon something rational
and comfortable as the result Of her
thought OncS get . woman's mind to
revert from tbs traditional theory that
the only purpose Of dress IS adornment,
to the idea that dress is designed for
service-a slave. not . sovereiRn-and
the most important principle OF dress
reform Is established. Tho first thing
the woloaa will renounce will be the
dainty gsuze and frills wherewith she
decks her person. To the initiated 1t
would seem Chat il ever there was .
time when principle demanded that
you wear your best stockings and
choose the prettiest patterned lace in
your lingerie it would be when facing
the unavoidable falls from . wheel.
But . spill is not and cannot be made.
picturesque. The girl with the super
sbundana frills looks like an upset
laundry basket
About the third lesson convinces you
that the only bicycle costume must be
OF the sEme color clear through to the
cuticle. You will save yourself much
trouble H just at this point you 60 di-
rectly to the tailor who makes your
riding habits and have him make out
of heavy habit cloth pair Of well-fit-
ting knee breeches. buttoning just over
the knee. and, of the same material rs
your gown. Beneath these must be
worn acombiuation garment of wool,
which may be of lighter or heavier
weight according to the weather.
Heavy hose Of wool or silk must be
worn over yoar fine hose and by plac-
Ing Q strap with button holes in the
hem of f.the trousers and buttons on the
stockings. you obviate the necessity OF
garters or supporters and insure great
er freedom Of motion in consequence.
Except in the coolest weather NO
petticoet will be needed, and when
worn il must! be of warm linsey, and
must be scast, but not divided. The
dual ski-t il clumsy and cumbersome
worn underneath. and neither desirable
nor picturesque on the outside. Over
the combination undergarment is worn
on the upper part of the body . knitted
Jersey, which may be moro or less
heavy according to the day.
There b great disagreement among
the experts on the question OF corsets
While il must bc admitted that the cor
set il batter abolished, still II, as many
contend. they cannot ride without It
let it be . riding corset cut entirely
away op the hips with . low bust. moi
too closely boned, and, above all. worn
loosely. Now, last and least of all in
importance Is the gown. which is OF
habit cloth. just long enough to cleal
the ground, just full enough to allow
perfectly free motion Of the legs
The bodice should be . yoke bodice
which adapts itself we'll to thi'
costume. The gown may be Of blue
or hunters green. or tan. and the yoke
Of bright crimson or scarlet The Tan
O'Shanter l. Of scarlet too. and can bs
tilted down over the eyes to form some
shade from the sun. Remember. the
bodice must be loose. particularly
about the arm-holes and sleevea Ths
shoes must be laced, loose In fit and
h.ve Low. flst heelS-N. Y. Sun.