Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-29

lt.
hooPskirts he feels strongly. 1t isn't his weak
point. The Mississippisn. whose stories are as
! funny as Bill Nyes sometimes, said But
can't decide yet whether women really want
hoops or not. Do they? If / thought they
didn't and fashion and those men dressmakers
we're trying TO impose on them I'd vote twice a
day against them. I'll have to study MP the
| subject and any pamphlets on the subject would
be useful. 1want women to be happy. They
/ don't have such chance men do. and II
hoops will make EN- happy then I'm in favor
OF hoops. But for the small boys in my
! district, If hoops mean the revival of rattan
should be compelled to protect the boys
even at the expense Of the girls. But sensi-
bic girls won't wear those hideous things"
Mr.. Aliens simple trusting faith in girls
not wearing what is fashionable is very touch
| ing.
OF course Apollo Gibson. the colleague of
Senator German. from Maryland, would be
considered authority any matter Of this
kind, but it wouldn't be safe TO repeat all the
Senator said on the crinoline and hoop Ques-
ton. Yet with all his chivalry and desire to
let women rule the world and have their own
| sweet way he doesn't seem very enthusiastic
l. over their surrendering to the all-conquering
hoops. He requested particularly that he
shouldn't be quoted on this topic, but it is
enough to say that he came back to whisper in
regular stage key: Say if the newspapers
! have any influence with the ladies do get them
to pitch into hoops"
Senator Daniel Of Virginia has O pretty,
black-eyed, dimpled daughter, TO whom he re-
ferred the subject with puzzled expression.
I'm not an authority the subject. The
ladies of my family would control my vote and
influence on that topic. Say" turning to his
daughter, How do We stand on hoopskirts? II
you want EN- you shall have EN-. Speak out"
Miss Daniels dimples grew deeper and more
dimplng as she promptly said: NO, pa, hate
hoopskirts. We don't want them. They
aren't becoming, you know, especially to petite
women"
And the Senator said; THAT settles it. Count
me against them every time. She SAYS SO and
she knows what suits her,"
WHEN GEN. WHEELER THOUGHT THEM ANGELS.
Gen. Wheeler, the Alabama member, doesn't
exactly PROSTATE himself before the idea of a
return OF hoopskirts, but be has sort Of a rev.
erential attitude that isn't half so funny after
all when the cause is understood. Gen.
Wheeler was rushing through by way eorri-
dor leading from the post Office of the House.
His pockets were bullying with letters and
his hands held still bigger bundles to be an
swered
my, 1 haven't got time to state my position
4 on the hoop question. I've not thought about
IT, but that reminds me Of a little incident.
don't know but what after all I'm in favor of
them. Why, once on a time thought a street
full OF women wearing hoops was full of
angels. 1t was late in '65. I'd been out in
Texas. We didn't see many women IN those
days out there and what few there was didn (
patronize fashions until they got to be at least
ten years old and most of them didn't know
What fashion meant. Istarted for home and
came down the Mississippi, landing at Mem
phis- When l walked across the plank and up
Main street the sidewalk was filed with figures
that seemed to float rather than walk, so
graceful were they with something I'd never
seen before, holding their skirts out and sway
ing gracefully as they came along. They
seemed 10 me for time like angels and
stopped the first man i met and asked him
what the women were wearing. The sight of a
woman wearing hoops ALWAYS brings back that
idea" and the general smiled dreamilv at the
thought of his first impressions Of hoopskirts
eyes, believe I'd vote for hoops if had a
chance"
MR. MANTLE EMBARRASSED.
Young Mr.. Mantle, who wants to be seated
rs Senator from Montana, is not apt TO forget
his first interview with a Washington news
paper woman. There no intent to alarm
him, but il just simply happened that the
nrst newspaper woman whom he met flung the
boopskIrt question at him. The young man.
of course, Is another senatorial bachelor, and
he stammered and looked thunderstruck, but
finally admitted that he would hate awfully to
see his mother. who is his ideal woman wear
ing hoOpskirts. ard if he ever had TO vote on
the subject he should have TO protect her.
hr. Murphy Of New York thinks the hoop
skirt cartoons are all justified. and makes 1t
one of his enjOyments lately to get laugh at
all of them. Hosts of other Senators have
been canvassed. and If any crank tries to get
Congress TO indorse any anti-crinoline legisla-
ton he will be promptly admonished that dis
erection is his proper cue Oh that subject.