The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-09-08

LADY's BICYCLE COSTUME AND THE
SPREAD or CIVILIZATION.

Woman and Education May Try For
the Amerfcn's Cup-AshIste and Oarswo-
man-sootch Lassies Win Degrees-The
Pctticoat Is Doomed.
In Chicago a young woman rugged
herself out III her bicycle dress and
went cut to ride on her wheel in one of
the city marks. She was wearing bloom
ers or something of. that sort. and a man
who apparently had been brought mp in
the backwoods and had never seen any
thing like it before thought the show
was funny and laughed at it
The young woman was not an imita-
tion reformer. She was one of the dead
I'm earnest kind and not likely to be
laughed at with IMMUNITY. She had the
scofer arrested, and he was fined 5000
"a pretty large amount to pay for such
an extremely limited amount Of fun as
HE must have got in return for it. Such
an episode is likely Co have its effect in
the spread Of civilization in the west,
and among the accomplishments of real
civilization is a kind Of bicycle costume
for ladies that viii enable them to ride
the wheel without danger from accident
from entangling skirts and without the
least immodestv. A $500 fine will help
along that civilization even in Chicago,
although it seems to have got along
pretty well elsewhere without the use
Of any such rigorous methods
It is obvious enough that a distinct
costume in which the skirt will be prac-
tically done away with will be sooner
or later in universal use by women who
ride bicycles. There has never been any
difference Of opinion as to the desirable
ity of It. The skirt is not merely incou-
venient, but it has been the cause of
many accidents and it is by no means
q modest garment-at all events tho
nodesty Of its behavior cannot always
be depended up0n-When worn in BIZ
cycle riding. There is hardly any one
of the various distinct bicycle costumes
that is not in all respects more modest
Tia use than the loose skirt and as every
body can understand all are much safer,
for there is nothing TO become entan-
gled IN the machine and by disabling 1t
liza some particular throw the rider.
Only the ignorant viii laugh at these
costumes. They may appear funny to
those who do not keep up with what is
going on in the world. To such any
change from long established custom
seems funny People not long ago
thought 1T funny to see q lady ride BIZ
cycle at all, but now the sight is 50
common as to attract little more atten-
tom than If the lady were merely
walking along the pavement. Tt viii
net be long before tine bicycle costume
which docs without the skirt viii be
such q common, every hour sight on orr
rcers-even in the b1ckWoods cities of
Tho west-that they viii attract no un-
t-ual attention. In TACT it is not inn
probable that the lady who wears the
conventional skirt when she rides viii
-ttract moro attention than the one who
doesn't. but who instead wears some
Ching more appropriate and sensible.
In some places considerable progress
has been made in this kind OF reform,
and having once gained a start it will
advance rapidly. Bicycle riding Is
becoming more and more popular with
women as with men, and there is no
reason why women should be hampered
in the exercise by being compelled to
wear a dress that Is neither suitable
nor safe for the purpose. There is no
law to prevent a change to something
appropriate. and no woman fit to be a
pioneer in any dress reform movement
is going to be lau gbed down. And men
are not going to do very much laughing
Of that kind If they are to be asked to
pay 5000 for 1T each time
lit is encouraging to see that justice
can be dealt out in this way ia Chicago
1t establishes both the moral and legal
right Of tie dress refOrmers to push
forward with their work They need
have no further fear of being laughed
at. philadelphia Press.