New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-22
BLOOMERS NOT A BARRIER.
MRS MARY SARGENT HOPKINS TALKS
ABOUT CYCLING.
SHE TELLS THE PROFESSIONAL woMAN'S
LEAGUE THAT TURKISH TROUSERS
NEED NOT BE WORN.

Health is the handmaid OF beauty. and they boih
wait on happiness" declared Mrs Mary Sargent
Hopkins OF Boston. yesterday afternoon u '"e
members OF the Professional Womans League anu
apparently they fully agreed with her She also
asserted with emphasis that women might Improve
themselves and their homes II they wouid ue'o'e
more Of their time to outdoor exercise. Ime ~
not thrown away" she continued that is spent III
repairing wasted energies. II women only Wouiu
be convinced OF this fact. and would insist upon
taking the necessary time for exercise 'here "ouu
be fewer physical wrecks and mental nobouies.
Cycling was the exercise which was speclahy
recommended by Mrs. Hopkins 1t was said that
for a time many women looked askance at the
idea but this was thought by the speaker TO nave
beeu mainly on account OF the ludicrous costuming
Of some OF the riders. The SUBJECT Oh cych"s
costumes" 1t was said. has become 80 ihpo' '""t
that II cannot be sneered at. lightly put aside
and as cycling is taking .he place that IL deserves
as "A factor in physical development ana heallh' 80
must the dress which is upon the wheel nave
proper consideration Many women are Determined
to be conspicuous ant they even prefer adverse
criticism TO no notice Whatever There are othef
romen who feel II to be their mission 10 pTlhg
about reforms. and these so-callei REFORMS many
times are detrimental to good cause fhysc"'
culture never had powerful an auxiliary A. the
wheel and it IL to he nope, that the rev BIZARRE
costumes which have been introduced may not as
,nich. apprecia;e this grand exercise at It's true
worth"
The fact that the majority o. men ridicule
Uoman's dress WAS referred 10. but IL was a"uen
that these same men weaken quickly "he"
reform begins in their own househo.u. inc
speaker gave as her personal conviction tha' '"e
reason why many men have objected 10 h"''"s
the women OF their families become cyclists was
because the dress conspicuous. ms was sal"
10 be the case with many OF the women 'hem
selves What, Wear boomers. and mount
diamond wheel from the rear? Never. ms
vas said TO be IA" excited query o! many az
uninitiated woman who imagined that 10 rue Hi'
must be masculine. 1T is not priidishhfsS auusu
Mrs HOPKINS: zone visit 10 the opera "ouIu con-
ninntv of women who would refuse the greatest
blessing that might he offered 10 theil' IL .rpsda,
cepting 1t they were made uiaitracuve. ihish
trousers will DO we'll enough ior the symnasiuh'
but 1t is too much &" demand tneli pnp.Ir us,,
As one man said TO me recently. remove woman
skirt and great charm has been taken WIN II.
An amusing incident was related 81 IeCei , ~.
If any new invention had been made pubic, or
anv feasible ideas regarding wheeling ma, p'eIi
"dSanced Mrs Hopkins questioned the clerk. and
he ~enllri with assurance An. yes, madam; this
~ t'r pm, that IS mans wheel" she pro-
tested, To- which he answered. well. the women
are all going 70 ride them MS ' tIoons sn assured
will all wear boomers TOO Mr o,shsd Win the
Young man she felt confident that he Would no, re-
peat his rash assertions TO any otncr s"'ni ~"
formation out of the large number OF women
who have learned the value OF cycling II was ue-
clnrcd that only few had adopted that 11stun'T
woman could be comfortable. could AVOID all dahEe.
Of becoming cniangied with her machine. ana AT ne
same tine could he az attractive as on no''''''N'
where woman is said to look her best .....,....
A. the close o. thc paper. a nunb.t % W.. III 5
'.,,.e yDr. "A skrd hy the members % tn l.raSur'
and were satisfactorily ans"rr,i ny III gpoodl,
A MTs Me; ~ ,R~ member nciudng the president
Mrs. Palmer were present