The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-12
You are very fond of children"


Indeed, | am; / love them, " replied the
captain with animation, his eyes lighting
up with pleasure. That is, / love little
girls, and they seem to De very fond of
me. The old girls and young women
don't, but young ones, like this one''-
pressing the little red-freckled maid close
to him-"do"
Yes, sir" continued the aged boat
builder, Il have about 30 little girls, and
they are the finest, prettiest collection in
Uhls country, and all of them love the old
captain"
Il notice that you seem surprised to
see all these little girls dressed in boys
trousers went on the boat builder.
"WelI, this little one here is the only one
who wears dresses. l don't believe in
esses for girls, or for women, at the
lake
Long skirts or short skirts are always
a source of peril to females. They catch
IN distractions; they get tangled up on
BOARD boats with ropes and timber, and
are always source of peril. Why don't
the ladies at the lake adopt short trous-
ers instead of dresses3 That's what ]
want to kow
Another reason for wearing them in
cities, and especially among shOpgirls and
girls In manufactures, is an always abid-
ing danger to swishing and flying skirts.
Look at the thousands of fatalities that
have resulted from girls dresses catch
ing in machinery and drawing them help
less into the arms OF death These ac-
cldents wouldn't have happened If they
had worn trousers, and male dress would
make women labor easier.
Il have goJ all my little girls here to
wear short pants, and they can run and
fish and row and play a hundred times
better dressed this way, and they like IT,.
am teaching them to swim, and ] have
some fine swimmers among nay girls
They never get angry with me except"
with a smile-''when l duck them in
the water"
1t was a strange sight, these little girls.
ranging from 10 to 70 years of age. dressed
in tight knee trousers, with bare limbs,
fishing about the wharf, climbing over
the captain, who played with them like a
boy, or padding in canoes near the boat
house.
Their long hair was the only mark of
femininitY about them, and the CAPTAIN
himself, We're he minus beard and mus
tache, would, with his long wreath of
hair, appear to be big girl among them.
The first thing they do" said he con
assuming trousers is to blush, feel of their
limbs and run away. They come back
shortly, however, and soon become so ac-
customed to and delighted with boys
dress that they are sad when Obliged to
wear skirts"
The old boat builder, who was engaged
in that occupation for many years at New
Haven, Conn, and at Norwich, in the
same state, is partial to square sterns
and is somewhat of an enemy TO the light
displacement in modern yacht building.
Capt Brooks very rarely leaves his
workshop and his beloved collection of
boy-dressed girls. He takes his meals at
the Phipps house near by, and may be
seen at work in his shop or playing with
the little girls and surrounded by a large
flock of chickens and birds any day, aud
a call at the captains stronghold would
be more prolific of interest to visitors
than any other point upon Lake Mime
tOnka.
Visitors are always received with cOur.
tesy by the strange man. who delights to
converse about his children and his boats,
and who usually brings out an eloquent
argument for mannish dress for summer
girls and women
Residents at Breezy Point are people
who have known Capt Brooks since his
debut at the lake, whose veracity is IN
questioned state positive that the old man
has worn the silver dog collar as long as
they have known him, only removing it
last November when apprised OF his
brothers. death.
1t is all strange and even remarGa BILE
story, but authentic in every point of de-
tail, as viii be realized upon a visit to
"Old Capt Brooks