The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-09-15
woMANs WORLD IN PARAGRAPHS.


that after awhile, perhaps even SO
soon as the beginning Of the twentieth
century, woman will be released from
the terrible thraldom of long skirts out
doors. Physical culture for ladies started
the ball rolling, and bicycle riding
among our sex has given it kick that
has sent it forward half century. lam
certain that it will not be many years
before women bicycle riders will spin
along on their wheels wearing the Turk
ish trousers and leather leggings already
adopted for that purpose by Mrs. Lizzie
Cheney Ward, gymnasium teacher OF
New York city. The trousers are made
full and gathered in below the knee,
where the leggings meet them. AT the
top they are buttoned to a shirt waist,
the buttons being concealed under belt
or bodice. With the addition of natty
little cap and bicycle shoes Mrs. Ward
is equipped for travel and can fly
along with swift cyclers without danger
of overfatigue or of entangling her skirts
in her wheel and getting fall. She
rides through Central park day after
day, her husband usually being with
her. Perhaps it is owing to this that
that frightful demon of timid come-out-
ers, the small boy, seldom annoys her.
So light and convenient is the costume
that Mrs. Ward has taken to wearing it
in the house as well as on her wheel.
She only longs for the day when women
will be permitted without molestation to
wear just such dress in the street and
wherever they need to do walking. In
walking q woman's skirts bind her with
a bondage unspeakable. Just so long as
she must wear them, just so long will
she be physically inferior to man. She
cannot walk as fast as he. She must drag
the demonish petticoats through dust
and mud or pinion her arms and expend
her strength holding them mp. They are
waste of dress material and positively
hurtful besides. For the house they are
well enough; also for those who wish to
wear them all the time. But may a
merciful civilization speed the day when
women who don't want to wear them,
but want free use of their feet and legs,
can dress in suitable garments without
being mobbed or guyed
Men who favor dress reform can be of
incalculable aid to it. Only for men and
boys indeed women could even now
wear what dress they pleased in the
street without fear of annoyance. 1t is
not women mohs they have to dread.
The man who believes in short dresses
for women outdoors can accompany his
wife, daughter or sister in a gymnasium
suit on walks or bicycle trips and show
by his presence protecting care that he
at least approves of the antisl1irt crusade
More men do approve of the short dress
than most people have any idea of.
Low walking skirts are the badge and
sign of physical and mental bondage.
The house Of representatives in far
away New Zealand has passed bill Civ
ing suffrage to women, not only white
women, but also to the native Maori
women.
Let no sentiment enter into business
matters and appointments, even in favor
of your own grandmother. Business is
business; sentiment is sentiment.
Elect women on school boards when
ever it can be done. Our American
school boards have fallen into the con-
troll of saloon keepers and political bar
nacles to such degree that only women
or the Almighty can rescue them. The
accounts written by DIR. Rice in The
Forum concerning our American public
schools show that in some respects they
have degenerated instead of keeping up
with the times. That children may
grow to be intelligent, moral, courteous
men and women is a matter nearer to
the hearts of mothers than of anybody
else. Ladies, see that our sex is repre-
sented, and worthily represented, on
your school boards.
Keep every promise you make, fulfill
every contract and be where you say you
will be exactly on time. This stamps
you as businesslilze woman.
The best paying building association
in Arkansas was organized by woman
and chartered in June, 1880. A woman
was secretary of it for nine years. st.
Louis has thriving building associa-
ton entirely managed and differed by
women.
Statistics show that women and girls
are more regular and persevering in
paying their building and loan associa-
ton dues than men are. If only these
faithful women and girls had more
money with which to pay their duesl
Mrs. Lydia Bradley has founded a
school for learning matchmaking at Pc
oria, Ills. 1t is called the Theological in
stitute. The best point about this school
is that it is open to both sexes. Women's
delicate fingers seem especially well
adapted to the light mechanical work Of
matchmaking.
New York city has a woman's astron-
omy club which is a credit to both New
York and the ladies. Some members Of
this club believe they were the first to
catch sight Of the comet recently seen.
A New York woman artist, Mrs. Ce-
ella B. Wentworth, has been highly
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