The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-01-19
QUIT SHORT SKIRTS
MISS MARTIN RETURNS TO THE
LONG DRESS OF FASHION.
Members of the School Board Have
an Influence in Bringing About
the Change People Also
Stared and Criticized too
Much for Comfort.

and donned the long skirts.
A reporter found Miss Martin in the
city library in a neat and tasty looking
regulation long skirt
Would you have any objections to be-
ing asked about your late change of cos
tume:"
NO. sir. / have none whatever
"You have tried both styles-which do
you prefer"
Reformed, undoubtedly"
Then why do you not wear them?"
81 do not intend to tell the EAGLE that. :"
Miss Martin then referred to a former
interview of the EAGLE and said that she
did not so much object to the article but
TO criticism which occurred after the ar
ticle appeared.
"But people would like to know of your
experience. They think that You went
back because you did not like reform dress" :"
Il do not care what they think. but since
l think it over now shall tell you"
Did your lady friends influence you?"
''They did in this way. There were cer-
tain ladies of this city who. long before l
put those skirts on, said that if some one
would make the break they would follow. !"
Did they?"
''No; not ore of them. They were scared
nearly to death by that article In the
EAGLE"
WAS that the only reasons"
NO sir. l have o great many more.
There are two classes of people who had
some iDf1ueBce-one a certain lot of people
who consider themselves very high and
holy, kind of Goldfish aristocracy. who
think short skirts are immodest and yet
they let their clolhes nearly fall off their
shoulders.
Here Miss Martin was interrupted, but
soon returned and asked where she left
off
''At the Goldfish aristocracy."
"Weli. they were continually talking
and said some very insulting things"
"And the other class"
''They are the very low who are not only
low but know it. They stand on the cor
ners of the streets and spit tobacco juice
all over the pavement and watch the ladies
as they pass drag the filth and dirt up on
their skirts. These would squint their
eyes and turn up the corners of their
mouth and laugh and make insulting re-
marks as passed which often reached
my ears"
'What were your feelings on such oc-
casions?'
''They were queer. Sometimes | was
real angry, at others / felt uncomfortable,
and often very sorry for the narrowness
and i'll manners of people who ought have
known better"
'Why," said the librarian, sat first some
thirty people at a time would come up
here TO gaze at me, and just stand and
stare"
''They thought it odd, nc doubt. l dou't
mind that That is all right. l know 1 am
odd. And then, there were some women
who are considered not extra nice who
also turned up their noses"
did the school boards statement that
they wanted some one who wore long
skirts influence your"
''The school board did not ask me to
change but the opinion of the individual
members had great influence on me-"
Miss Martin stated that she had express
ed her opinions more thoughtfully and
more explicitly in an article which will ap-
pear in the February Arena, edited by Mr.
and Mrs. Fowler at Boston, and also told
Of the benefits Of the reformed dress and
wondered what people would say if she
appeared in a Syrian costume. She show
ed letter from Mr. Fowler in which he
says that the reform will come because of
bicycles and the sentiment that women
shall dress comfortably and healthfully.
Have you received many letters?"
Lots OF them, asking my experience and
telling me theirs. Some were advertise
meets for all manner of new kind of
dresses. Here is one for an Alpha waist. "
"What is that?"
81 don't know. l haven't read it, but it
is something for health and comfort"
Aftera while Miss Martin added: "Mrs.
Lease and l had talk. Mrs. Lease does
not intend to wear them but is in favor of
them and told me to stick to mine that ]
was Oh the right track"
'Haye you given them UP entrely?'
"Only for year Or two. | was perhaps
a little too soon. | was radical and wore
them on the street, at home, in church
and everywhere. The time is coming
when women will wear short skirts for the
practical concerns of life, and long
drapery for evening or when they wish to
look beautiful, for certainly the long
drapery is the most graceful.
Il had intended to wear Greek cos
tune in the library, but then people would
talk more and more. | have decided since
Jan. to leave reform alone for the pres
ent, although l still wear the uudergar-
ments and in the near future intend to
again wear the outer garment am now
trying 10 persuade all the ladies know to
leave off the enslaviug aud crippling
habits of fashion"