The news & observer., 1895-08-25
Dress Reform Is Needed.
RALEIGH, N. G., Aug. %.

RALEIGH, N. Us aug. 20.
To the Editor Of the News and Observer.
Had a sensible woman been allowed to
choose many years ago between bloom
ers, or tight sleeves, a pull back and a
Grecian bend, she would have said
"Bloomers BIZ all means. Our sisters
of those times suffered bitterly at the
hands of stern fashion; their tightly tied
back garments, which we enlightened
women of fhe shirt waist wide skirt era
shudder 10 think about, made the un
fortunate vearers strongly resemble in
walking the dwarfed feet women Of the
Celestial Empire.n Those were also
the halcyon days of the pet dog, and
ladies with mineing steps, leading by q
ribbon miserable curled and perfumed
pug formed one of the jokes in trade OF
the comic papers. But we have learned
many things since the early seventies,
men tell US we have learned too much;
we have been educated Though success
sive and rapid stages to loose sleeves,
full skirts and Trilby shoes, and small
number of the newest women have
reached the climax of divided skirts and
bloomeTs.
Should women wear bloomers2 OF
course not. those much and rightly
abused garments are two hideous, and
ugliness, so far as woman's dress goes,
Is a crime. Nothing can make bloomers
pretty, pleatings would be an anomaly,
ruffies would be absurd. Then, too,
there is something slightly undecided
about the wearer of bloomers which is a
little unpleasant. 1t reminds one of the
small boy who, after having been re-
peatedly called by strangers "a pretty
little girl, asked with tears in his ey es
''Are a girl mother?'' or of
s'The old men In d town
Where women discarded the gown.
People said Who are these2'
They answered Guess please,
These naughty old men of this town.
Men need not be unduly alarmed,
boomers will never be generally adopted.
Why should we in civilized country
wish to initiate the clumsy, not very
comfortable attire of the ladies OF
Turkey? If we must wear trousers let
them at least be picturesque, let them
fall in full graceful folds and let them
end just below the knee. Boomers are
certainly far more modest than many 18th
century ball room costumes; the most re-
firing woman would prefer them to the
gown Of the first Empire, but few women
will ever voluntarily make themselves
ugly by wearing them. There are al
ways certain number of cranks, both
men and women in the world, and we
do not deny that some cranky women
long for bloomers or any other costume
by which they may attract the notice of
curious world; but viii anyone assert
that the most accomplished Bloomeress
is more absurdly attired than an ad-
yanced chappie2 Most Of us have no
yearning for apy~imitation Of mans ap-
parel. But, as Samantha Allen says,
''Be mejum in all things. Because we
look with seorn upon boomers Is no
reason why we should wish TO climb
mountains or ride bicycle in skirt so
long that il trips US at every step or gets
hopelessly entangled in our wheel. We
women do not now fill the place OF street
sweepers. as we did few years ago
but our skirts are still tco long; we dc
need sensible, short skirts, just clearing
the shoe top, for outdoor exercise. Men
NAV poke all sorts of fun at the cos
TUNES of women bicyelists, but bicycle
dress which has this season stood
the test of practical everyday weal
would have caused the most violent op
:. ponent of the gowns of the new woman
to fall in love with its charming wearer
lit consisted of a short tan -plque skirt
tan leggings and, horrible adictu, TAI