Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-07-29
NOVELTIES IN BICYCLE ATTIRE

From the masculine point OF view the
several attempts 10 supply ladies with
becoming and conventional costumes are
Disappointing. Descriptions and pic
lures from Paris had led Us to hope for
something original, little daring, per-
haus-samething certainly that should
be sensible. The difficulties add
"a 10 bicycling by a
skirt are Sufficiently obvious
It would seem as if IL must be the hard
est kind OF labor TO ride one against the
wind. This feature alone would justify
the fair sex in adopting some dress
analogous TO trousers, butin this country
at least there has not been manifested
sufficient courage TO bring about a wheel
suit that really fills the bill. A woman
NAV very naturally recOil from slavish
imitation Of the masculine knickbOckers
that seem 20 have been adopted readily
enough by fair Parisians-but let
woman speak for herself She is a
young lady OF first rate family, whose
social position Is such as to restrain her
from making any serious "breaks" from
the usages aud rules approved by those
who are supposed to DO authority on
what is proper and what improper
mo lady," she says, would like to
be mistaken for variety actress who
has forgotten to put on her street
clothes. A theatrical display In the
open air is intolerabls and though l sd-
NIT that the exposure OF limb that is
permissible ia a bathing suit Is often
times as great as that called form comic
opera, and that dresses are never more
Etartlingly decollete than in the draw
ing room, vet there is law that every
woman lnstiGctively recognizes that for
bids more than mere suggestion Of the
ankle in street costume. The time may
come when tho demands Of good
bicycling will evolve a costume to which
we shall get accustomed and
which will be thoroughly COM
Portable and pass muster for
rs modesty. There is none at present
On the other hand, the prevailing 0i-
cycle costume for ladies is absurdly far
from the mark 10 that it gives us style
Of trousers that IS ugly In appearance
and that retains almost all the annoy
Hnces OF the full skirt. Ii is really, you
know, a modification Of the divided
skirt and while IL does allow somewhat
larger freedom in the action OF the limb
10 does not avoid the undertaking
features OF full dress. But il isn't
pretty, and that's enough to condemn it.
Full length trousers, such as men wear
about their business, would be far pre-
ferable and il Is something like that
that we must come TO for bicycling
And It is something like that that this
young lady has invented for herself.
She has not vet ventured 10 use 1t In
broad daylight; perhaps she is trying 20
persuade some other girl 10 adopt the
styie with her and so divide the brunt
OF the innovation. She uses il after
dark and declares that bicycling wac
never so pleasant. The upper part OF
the costume consists OF neglige shirtsnd
Jacket of such cut aud trimming as the
wearer nav fancy. The important gar
ment is a pair OF full length trousers
that, from being rather full at
the hips, taper to a tight fit at the
ankle, around which they are buttOned.
Boots that come half way 20 the knees
are worn over the trousers, and the
effect, as seen in the cleaning, is de-
eldedly attractive and not In the least
ipdelicate. The trousers are full at the
boot tops, over which they roll slightly,
so that there Is no suggestion Of tights. !,
IL is what might be expected, perhaps