The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-05-16
APPEARS IN DIVIDED SKIRTS.
The New Dress of Los Angeles
WheeIwOmen.
The Costumes are Unconventional
but Very Sensible.
Turkish Trousers. LeggIngs and Elton
Jackets the Main Features-some
Who Have Adopted the
New style.

Los Angeles is pre-eminently the
paradise OF wheelmen and heelwomen.
1t ia city of long distances, and it is all
level. reasons sufficient for the fact that
one passes not less than five whselmen
on every downtown block. On moon
light nights the swift whirr OF passing
wheels is incessant In front OF every
business block from one to dozen
wheels stand chained, ready to convey
the riders around town or out into the
suburbs, says the San Francisco Chron-
icle.
That is one of the first things the
stranger notices in Los Angeles--the
great number Of bicycle riders. Another
is the large proportion of women who
ride, for at least two-6fths of the cyclists
are women. Three months ago ladies'
bicycle club was formed as an auxiliary of
the Young Women's Christian sesocis-
ton. To become q member one must
be an active or associate member OF the
association, and there is no doubt that
the wheel club has proved great draw
ing card, and has led to an in
crease OF membership in the asso-
now, with new ones joining every week.
with the riders. The president OF this
pioneer club, which is called the "Y" to
distinguish IL from a younger organiza-
ton, is q very charming young woman,
DE-. Rose Bullard, who makes her pro-
fessional visits on her wheel, with O
sublime disregard OF the conventional
traditions of the DOCTORS horse and
buggy. The club has for its colors yell
low and white. Amy day in the week
its members may be seen spinning about
the streets on errands or visits, and the
only distinguishing mark lie the knot OF
ribbon that decorates the handle bar. On
Saturday afternoons they may all be seen
together, making for some objective
point, ior Saturday is their day to ride
for pleasure, and they undertake some
weekly excursion, with friendly little
races between individuals ION the side."
The California Cycling club, which is
now even more thriving than the Y club,
is in no sense branch OF the latter. 1t
seems that some OF the members OF the
Y club did not like to be accompanied on
their Saturday outings by the husbands
of the married members; 80 the mar
ried women in the Y club organized q
new club, OF which most of the mem
bers are married. and where there is no
opposition to an accompanying cohort
of husbands. These enthusiastic wheel.
women are members of both clubs. The
@. @. @. and it's husbands ride g great
deal by moonlight. In this they have
the advantage of the Us. The club col
ors are crimson and gold and their mem
bers have adopted pretty pin, which
is of silver, and combines the three C's.
But the most striking innovation in
troduced by these wheelwomen ia
neither husbands nor pins, but cos
TUNES. They have, in fact, adopted the
most modern costume worn by wheel
women on this coast. The club has not
yet taken any action on the matter, but
o number OF the members have adopt
ed the costumes and there are only two
or three who are not in favor of adopting
it. Next week the matter of selecting
the dress as the club costume will be put
to a vote.
About month ago two Los Angeles
women, not connected with any club,
came out in the bifurcated costume.
The fret to appear on the streets was
one of the most radical type. The
knickerbocker trousers were ae tight as
those OF man, and CATERS reaching to
the knee completed the lower part OF the
garb. The upper part was even more
startling. 1t consisted OF name
sweater, vivid crimson in hue, and an
Elton jacket and cap. This was q little
more than even cosmopolitan Les Ange-
les could stand, aud the costume was
not approved of. In fact, the women
protested vigorously and the men were
amused.
Tha 49, ~o..x A. L.. 49,
tune was Mrs. Newdick, the wife of q
prominent business man and an enthu-
siastic wheelwoman, though not a men,
dicks costume ia tasteful and very ad-
vanoed In style. 1t has natty, tailor
made appearance and strongly resem-
bles the pictures of the dresses worn by |
Paris wheelwomen. 1t is of navy blue |
cloth and the divided skirt ia neither
very full nor very long. Blue cloth gai-
terra are buttoned up to the knee. The |
waist Ia an Eton jacket of blus cloth.
With it Mrs. Newdick wears a fancy
silk blouse, usually of cardinal.
The Turkish treusers fall grace
fully when she stands and set we'll
when Bhe 10 In the saddle. The other
wheelwomen thought the trousers should
be ample enough to completely hide the
saddle. Accordingly they set about to
improve ON the old costume, utilizing
the same idea. They think they have
improved ON it, and of course each
woman likes her costume the best. The
first member Of the @. @. O. to appear
In the new costume was Mrs. Charles
9. Hawley. She has been wearing it
less than week, but has already two
followers, and as she Is captain of the
club her example is naturally OF much
weight. 1t Is almost certain that the
club az whole will adopt her costume.
The two ladies who besides Mrs. Haw-
ley wear the bifurcated skirt are Mrs.
Vicksry and Mrs. Wolcott. One of
them was very much opposed to wear
ing this dress on principle. She had
never seen one. but she had
resolved never to wear one,s nor
such proceedings. When
she saw Mrs. Hawley's costume, how
ever, she changed her mind and was the
first in tine club to don one like it.
Mrs. Hswley wore her dress into the
street in open daylight without any pre-
liminsry skirmiShes after dark. So lady
like is the cut that few people notice the
divided skirt feature, and she has neither
heen stared at nor criticised. Mrs.
Hawlsy is Young. good looking and a
very graceful rider, and she has adopted
tne dress not to be conspicuous, but
solely on the grounds of convenience
and comfort. Already it has become in
dispenAable to her and abe is anxious
n q k.ar l. "a T.. L