The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-23

MR.. ROBBINS FINE PETTICoATs.
A Man Who Has More Costly Feni-
nine Wardrobe Than Amy Woman in
Town.
From the Lewiston Journal
Commander James Robbins, of the To-
| cal post G.. A. r., Cooper's Mills, Lincoln
county, in this state, is one Of the promi-
nent mcnof his community, citizen gen.
| orally esteemed as a man Of integrity and
intelligence. Mr. Robbins has a brilliant
war record as member of the Thirtieth
Maine. He has lived in the village since
1883, and is ieweler. His house is a
neat cottage house on the brow of the hill
| as one drives into the Mills In the mar
row front hallway is Mr. Robbins bench,
lathe, and tools, and here you viii find
him placidly working away at the tiny
wheels and springs.
If you are on sufficiently intimate terms
with MIR. Robbins you viii find him in-
dulging in his hobby. He has one, like
the most of US. fin his case the hobby is
startlinSly picturesque. and it may be
safely said that he is the most original
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 marketing At
these times he slips on the masculine
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 but
toned tightly about his hips He always
wears a woman's No. 6 shoe, with high
heels and graceful, slender shape. Mr..
Robbins weighs something like lS0poUnds,
and the effect produced by those shoes
peeping cOyly out from beneath manly
trouscr 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
snnctity of the home circle, for the par
tial retirement of his orchard, and for
calls upon neighbOrs with whom his ac-
quaintance is close Mr.. Robbins isn't
squeamish about showing himself in pet
ticoats. He enjoys wearing them; he has
worn them when opportunity presented
all his life long, and he wears them scien-
tidcally, too. In the first place, there's
no halfway business about it. Every de-
tail Of feminine attire is there, and MIR.
Robbins is rightly fussy about the de-
tails.
There is no woman in Cooper's Mills
who owns so many dresses of such eX-
cellent 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 fastened according
to the most approved models of any ladys
wardrobe. The material is of the finest
quality, and when MIR. Robbins lifts his
skirts the eye gets a vision of ruffles, lace,
and AL suCh-likeo of dazzling Wilderness
and immaculate smoothness
He is very particular about his ironing.
Everything must be starched up to the
handle,n whatever that is, and sOme-
times Mrs Robbins finds her hands full
and her clOthes-horse loaded down like
pack donkey. Amazed neighbors, who
were not fully aware of the extent of Mr..
Robbins hobby, have been obliged 10 ask
for more details, when Mrs. Robbins has
lacOnically informed them that ut is
Jims ironing" Mr.. Robbins hosiery is
of the long SORT and II is currently
rumored that the stockings are hitched
up NJ tho 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. In the morning he wears
print gowns, for he assists in the house,
work. Almost every morning Mr.. Robbins
In his print gown is seen sweeping of the
piazza and whisking about the kitchen.
He wears petticOats at home almost eX-
clusively, putting on his garb as soon
as he enters the house. For after
noon wear his gowns are elaborate.
Some of them are made by Mr.. Robbins
and some are fashioned by local dress
makers. One cashmere dress is quite a
favOrite, and this is frequently worn by
Mr. Robbins when he promenades in the
orchard. He has lots Of these good
clothes, all of fashionable cut, pulled
sleeves, and with all the fixin's that 90 to
lend grace and dignity. Usually he
wears an apron, and especially so when at
his bench. The apron is white, ordiua-
rily. and has a bib with ruffied straps
and pockets. MIR. Robbins present some
what unique appearance as he works
away of afternoons or sits and converses
with his Wife
Look at the gown and you see a sty-
lishly 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 moustache that
possibly owes its color to art. His hair is
long, black and curly, his voice is deep
and full. and there's nothing efeminate
about him except his attire.