The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-11-14
A MAN In PETTICOATS
THE QUEER NOTION or AN OLD SOL
DER CITIZEN or MAINE.

The QUEER NOTION OF AN OLD SOL
DER CITIZEN or MAINE.
he Has More Costly Feminine Wardrobe
Than Any Woman In Town Visions OF
Lace. Runles. Etc. weighs IsO Pounds,
but Wears womans No. @ shoe.
Commander James Robbins Of the local
post g. A. R., Cooper's Mills, Lincoln
county. in this state, is one OF the prom
inent men of his community. . citizen
generally esteemed a. man Of integrity
and intelligence. Mr.. Robbins has
brilliant war record as member OF the
Thirtieth Maine. He has lived in the
village since 1883 and In jeweler. His
house II 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 placidly working
away at the tiny wheels and springs.
II yon are on sufficiently intimate
terms with Mr.. Robbins you win And
him indulging in his hobby. He has
one, like the most Of us. In his case the
hobby is startlingly picturesque, and 1t
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 and to do his market
ing. At these times he slips on the mas
culine pant looms 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 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
entifically 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.
n 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. Hit lingerie is
elaborately 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 rufies, lace
and ''all such like" of dazzling whiteness
and immaculate smoothness.
He il very particular about his iron
ing. Everything must be starched ''up
co 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
co ask for more details, when Mrs. Rob-
bins has laconically informed them tha,
lit is Jim's ironing" Mr.. Robbins ho-
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
mp for afternoons.
In the morning he wears print gowns
for he assists in the homework. Almost
every morning Mr.. Robbins in his print
gown is seen sweeping off the piazza
and whisking about the kitchen. Eli
wears petticoats at home almost ex
clusivelyss putting on his garb as soon a.
he enters the house. For Afternoon
wear his gowns are elaborate. Some d
them are made by Mr.. Robbins, ant
some are fashioned by local dress,nak
ers. One cashmere dress is quite .
favorite, and this is frequently worn b,
Mr.. Robbins when he promenades ii
the orchard. He has lots of these goot
clothes, all of fashionable cut, ouffes
sleeves, and with all the fixings that 4,
to lend grace and dignity. Usually h,
wears an apron and especially SO whel
at lis bench. The apron is white ordi
narily and has bib with ruffied strap
and pockets. Therefore does Mr.. Rob
bins present a somewhat unique appear
lance as he works away of afternoons o
1sits and converses with his wife.
III Look at the gown and you see stylish
lily attired woman, but the face is yer,
Imannish indeed. Mr.. Robbins would b
Unmarked in any crowd. His face is full
land he wears Jet black mustache tha
possibly owes its color to art. His hal
fs long. black and curly, his voice Is dee
band full, and there's nothing effeminat
Thbout him except his attire. .-Lewistol
Eponrnal.
H an hurry 70 Ger Inere.