The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-06-02

A woman NAV face a header in public,
may actually smile al death. but she can
not. with equanimity. foresee having her
draperies cut away TO extricate her from
her wheel. This is exactly the posslbiii-
~ which exists ia every fold OF long
skirt. a skirt should be rather scant
falling 10 the shoe top. or an inch below
faced and bound with leather. when
gives no surface for catching on the
points OF the gearing OF the wheel. ana
also weights the skirt evenly. close
fitting jacket over a silk or shirt waist
Is In excellent taste. and provides light
ness for a warm summer dag or wrap
to avoid chill Leggins are warm Tor
this season, but a high-topped shoe can
meet the short skirt with comfort 70 the
wearer. and elegance In appearance. no
peticoats should be worn under the shirt
but equestrian tights or the silk divided
skirt. woman thus sensibly appareheh
is CARRIED for any occasion when may
occur IN the days pleasure or business
THE TBETTIrsT LrSGTH.
The prettiest length for skirt Is
about 10 the ankles. II can be little
shorter, but that is not necessary. Very
few women ride such distances as 10
make II necessary 10 vicar boomers
which are. after all, clumsy affairs. be-
sides being the most unbecoming OF gar
ments. The woman who looks well in
boomers has not yet made her appear
ance. and FOR this reason, II no other. II
is doubtful If boomers ever will take
the place Of skirts Underneath the reg
ular skirt boomers or knickerbockers are
all very well. and II the skirts blow up
as skirts are apt 10 do should the day be
at all windy. the effect Is much better
and much less like an AmazOnian march
G D a
tights. though most women prefer so to
do. Too wide a skirt is very ugly. Some
of the best riders say that three yards J.
the widest they SHOULD be, and that after
that every inch is superfiuous. The fav-
orlte pattern has the fullness directly IN
the back, but the skirt from the knee
down has big sweep. so that the motion
OF the knees when wheeling Is not any
more apparent than necessary
TO KEEP SKIRTS down.
There have been many devices for keep
ing the skirts down. Weights and such
Ike things have not been liked. Facing
the skirt with leather gives a pretty fin
ism and is supposed to hold Il in place,
but does not always do so. The fav0rite
plan is 70 have a strap OF elastic sewed
on either side. The exact position can
only be determined by the woman herself
when she gets on the wheel This strap
should be OF elastic an inch wide and
must be fully six inches long. At the end
loop 10 form q Duttonhole must be ad-
ded, and this is TO be fastened 20 the
bottom OF the lcggins-the second button
beneath the knee is the best one. Fas-
tening the skirt down In this way on
either side certainly does keep IL I'm place
and gives trim. neat appearance.
The proper hat to wear is. OF course, a
consideration. Something TO shield the
eyes is quite necessary. Sailor hats or
alpine hats are the best, but light weight
straw must be chosen, for every bit OF
weight is 10 be dreaded. The Tam
OSanter hats, which were a fad for a
| little while during the winter. and which
also have been made up IN straw. are
not useful a { this time Of the year. They
| have become too common, also, to be
smart. Heavy wells are better 10 wear
1 than the dotted ones. Chiffon, gauze
and grenadine are to be had very sheer
thick enough to protect the face. shield
the eyes, and at the-sam time, be be-
coming. Dotted and fancy wells are real.
| ~ out OF place with the severe style Of
the correct bicycle get-up.
The gloves must De worn size larger
than ordinary so as to allow the free
use Of all the muscles Very few women
wear silk or cotton gloves. and the cheap
er qualities I'm Kid which are always 10
be had made up 10 the Biarritz style.
are the best. These are the kind Of gloves
which have no buttons. but simply pull
over the hand. They can be bought for
seventy-hve cents a pair, and very rare
| ~ are more than one dollar The kid Is
course. but looks well. They are the
coolest sort OF gloves 10 wear and are
! particularly wen adapted 10 bicycling
ROT Ha q.
| bic. 1t Is said that some women intend
wearing the Merry coarse-looking plaid
stockings IN which the men have dis
| ported themselves lately. But as these
| stockings. in spite Of being loosely woven.
and consequently not so warm IS they
look are very course and rough, il is
doubtful II they ever become universally
popular.
The New York women have. some Of
| them. appeared on the Park and River
side drives In very smart costumes. Mrs.
| Paul Thebaud and Miss Massey Strong
| have been dressed somewhat alike, in
! decidedly conspicuous cosnmes-short
skirts Of tartan plaid. reaching just be-
| low the knees. brown Jackets. fancy silk
waists and Glengarry caps light tan leg
gins and shoes. and light gloves COM
/ pleted a rather striking picture. which.
| toy force OF contrast, did not look nearly
so smart as the plain covert cloth cos
| tunes worn by Mrs Willie Allen and Mrs
Walter Chaplin. These last were made
with skirts 10 the ankle, leggings of the
same material and dark sailor hat, cor
rect in every detail. Faultess in fit. and
| eminentiy quiet ana ladyike. they were
capital examples Of how women should
| dress.
GEARING or BICYCLES.
| With people who contemplate the pur-
chase Of new bicycles one Of the most
important questions is that Of gears. -