The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1893-11-02
A MAN In PETTICOATS
THE QUEER NOTION OF AN OLD SOL
DER CITIZEN OF MAINE.

GICn VI NJ hh'N-'
He Has a More Costly Feminine Wardrobe
Than Amy Woman In Town-yisions of
Lace, RULES, Etc.-ITeighs 80 Pounds.
but Wears a woman's No. Shoe.
Commander James Robbins of the local
post Ct. A. B.. Cooper's Mills, Lincoln
county, in this state, is one of the prom
inent men of his community, citizen
generally esteemed as a man of integrity
and intelligence. Mr.. Robbins has
brilliant war record as a member of the
Tlirtieth Maine. He has, lived in the
village since 1883 and is q jeweler. His
house is a. neat cottage house on the
brow of the hill as one drives into the
Mills. In the narrow front hallway is
Mr.. Robbins bench, lathe and tools, and
here you will find him placidlys working
away at the tiny wheels and springs.
If you are on sufficiently intimate
terms with Mr.. Robbins, you will find
him indulging in his hobby. He has
one, like the most of US. In his case the
hobby is startlingly picturesque, and it
may be safely said that he is the most orig
inal man in the state of Maine, SO far as
his curious fancy is concerned. He wears
ipetticoats. Not when he goes down
street for the mail and to do his market
Ing AT these times he slips on the mas
culine pantaloons. Yet he does not
wear his trousers, even, like ordinary
masculinity. No suspenders for him.
He wears sort of dress waist and his
trousers are buttoned tightly about his
hips. He always wears awoman's num-
Der six shoe, with high heels and grace
full, slender shape. Mr. Robbins weighs
something like $50 pounds, and the effect
produced by those shoes peeping coyly
out from beneath manly trouser legs is
startling. to say the least. Mr.. Robbins
doesn't nince or toddle, and his shoes
seem to fit him pretty well.
Z. He reserves his petticoats for the sane
tity of the home circle, for the partial
retirement of his orchard and for calls
upon neighbors with whom his acquaint-
ance is close. Mr.. Robbins isn't squeam-
ish about showing himself in petticoats.
He enjoys wearing them, he has worn
them when opportunity has presented
all his life long, and he wears them sci
entiically too. In the first place, there's
no half way business about it. Every
detail of feminine attire is there, and
Mr.. Robbins is rightly fussy about the
details.
There is no woman in Cooper's Mills
who owns so many dresses of such excel
lent material as does the commander of
the Cooper's Mills post. He takes pride
in having only the best. His lingerie is
deliberately tucked and ruffied, edged
with lace and fashioned according to the
most approved models OF any lady's
wardrobe. The material is of the finest
quality, and when Mr.. Robbins lifts his
skirts the eye gets vision of ruffles, lace
and "all such like" of dazzling whiteness
and immaculate smoothness.
He is very particular about his iron
ing. Everything must be starched ''up
to the handle" whatever that is, and
sometimes Mrs. Robbins finds her hands
full and her clotheshorse loaded down
like pack donkey. Amazed neighbors,
who were not fully aware Of the extent
of Mr.. Robbins hobby, have been obliged
to ask for more details, when Mrs. Rob
bins has laconically informed them thai
''it is Jim's ironing" Mr.. Robbins 10
siery is of the long sort, and it is cur.
rently rumored that the stockings are
hitched up at the sides. His corsets he
has made especially for his girth, and
these he wears continually. His shape
is fairly good, especially when he dresses
up for afternoons. go. .-.,.,,.,,.,. = -, 80
In the morning he wears print gowns,
for he assists in the housework. Almost
every morning Mr.. Robbins in his print
gown is seen sweeping off the piazza
and whisking about the Kitchen. y He
wears petticoats at home almost ex-
clusiyely, putting on his garb as soon as
he enters the house. = For afternoon
wear his gowns are elaborate. Some of
them are made by Mr.. Robbins, and
some are fashioned by local dresslnak-
ers. One cashmere dress is quite a
fasorite, and thissis frequently worn by
Mr.. Robbins when he ~premenades in
the orchard. He has lots of these good
clothes, all of fashionable cut, pulled
sleeves, and with all the fixings that go
to lend grace and dignity. Usually he
wears an apron and especially so when
at his bench. The apron is white ordiI
narily and has a bib with ruffled straps
and pockets. & Therefore does Mr. Rob-
bins present somewhat unique .appear-
| ance as he works away of afternoons or
sits and conyerses with his wife.
,,., Look at the gown and you see stylish
ly attired woman, but the face is, very
mannish indeed. Mr. Robbins would be
marked in any crowd. His face is full,
and he wears a jet black mustache that
| possibly owes it's color to art. His hair
is long. black and curly, his voice is deer
and full, and there's nothing aeffeminate
about him except his attire. -4Lewistou
Journal. 8aE @ ~.
| A Dance without Smile. .
\ n