The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-11-14
A MAN IN P~ETTICOATS
THE QUEER NOTION OF AN OLD SOL
DER CITIZEN OF MAINE.

He Has . More Costly Feminine Wardrobe
Than Any womas In Town-visions Of
Lace, Runies. Etc.-weighs $50 Pounds.
but Wears . woman's No. Q Shoe.
Commander James Robbins of the local
post G.. A. R.. Cooper's Mills, Lincoln
county, in this state, is n of the prom
inent men of his community, a citizen
generally esteemed as a mar of integrity
and intelligence. Mr.. Robbins has a
brilliant war record as a member of the
Thirtieth Maine. He has lived in the
village since 1888 and is a jeweler. His
house is a neat cottage house on the
brow of the hill as n drives into the
Mills. In the narrow front hallway is
Mr.. Robbins bench, lathe and tools, and
here you will find him placidly 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
~petticoats. Not when he goes down
street for the mail AMI to do his market
ing. At these times ne slips on the mas
culine pantaloons. Yet he does not
wear his trousers, even, like ordinary
masculinity. No suspenders for him.
He wears a sort OF dress waist. and his
trousers are buttoned tightly about his
hips. He always wears a woman'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 mince or toddle. and his shoes
seem to fit him pretty well.
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
en~tifcally 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
elaborately tucked and ruffled, 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 a vision of %ruffies, lace
and ..all such like" of dazzling whireness
and immaculate sm~oothness.
He Is very particular about his iron
ing. Everything must be starched ''uI
to the handle" whatever that is, and
sometimes Mrs. Robbins finds her hands
full and her clotheshorse loaded down
like "a pack donkey. Amazed neighbors,
who We're 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
1T is Jim's ironing" Mr.. Robbins no
SIfIN 10 vi tii' ioilS SUI =" ~ 10 III
rently rumored that the stockings are
hitched up at the sides. His corsets HI
has made especially for his girth. ani
these he wears continually. His SHAPE
is fairly good, especially when he dresse.
ny for afternoons.
In the morning he wears print gowns
for he assists in the homework. Almos
every morning MI. Robbins in his prin'
gown is seen sweeping off the piazz;
and whisking about the kitchen. HI
wears ~petticoats at home almost ex
clusively, putting Oh his garb as o o a
he enters the house. For Afternoon
wear his gowns are elaborate. Some 0
them are made by Nj. Robbins, a
some are fashioned by local dressmak
ers. One cashmere dress is quite
favorite, and this is frequently worn b.
Mr., Robbins when he promenades il
The orchard. He has lots Of these goo'
clothes, all of fashionable cut, putfe'
sleeves, and with all the fixings that e
to lend grace and dignity. Usually h
wears an apron and especially so whe,
at his bench. The apron is white ord
narily and has a bib with ruffled STRAP
and pockets. Therefore does Mr.. Rot
bins present a somewhat unique appear
ance as he works away of afternoons Q
sits and converses with his wife.
Look at the gown and you see a stylish
" attired woman. but the face is Yer
mannish indeed. Mr.. Robbins wonld
marked in n crowd. His face is ful
and he wears a jet black mrstache tbs
possibly owes its color to art. His ha'
is long. black and cnrly, his voice is dee
and full, and there's nothing efTemina'
about him except lis attire. -Lew.sto
Journal.
Efforts TO domesticate the quail ha'
been persisted in by many people, ~
generally with Indifferent results. RO