The Anaconda standard., 1895-06-04
NOTHING BUT BLOOMERs GO
Woman Physician of New York Says
Skirts Must Give Way.

Skirts Must Give Way.
"As regards the matter of costume"
said woman doctor of New York to
a Tribune reporter, II think the long
skirt is bound to go. 1t looks out of
place on a bicycle, and is certainly
much in the way. The truth of the
matter is that no costume which can
be devised is going to make women
appear at their best on a bicycle. The
very position that they assume and the
constant movement of the limbs up
and down prohibits a graceful appear
ance. The delight of the exercise, how
ever. more than compensates for any
drawback of this kind, and most wheel
women are willing enough to look even
awkward in order to enjoy the sport.
THE impression seems to prevail
that for a woman bicyclist to decry
skirts is to proclaim herself unfemi-
nine, somewhat more immodest than
her conventional sisters. l say that
such is not the case. In my opinion,
for a woman to ride in bloomers, with
a skirt over them, which is continually
blowing up and showing the bloomers
beneath, is far more indelicate than
for the bloomers to be en- evidence
from the start The wearing of the
skirt suggests that there is something
to conceal, and where the bloomers are
worn it is frank tntimation that the
rider recognizes the nature of her un-
uGfIaklnR ana mas uTtSStu ntTSelI dI-
propriately. AS regards the display of
a woman's ankle, l do not see why II
is more. vulgar than to show her arms
and part of her spinal column in even
ing dress. There would be nothing
vulgar in a woman's sitting with her
foot up. if she had on divided skirt
gathered at the knee, or even bloomers,
but when she has on ordinary flowing
skirt and eleVates her foot ever so lit
tie. the aspect is entirely different.
lone can see an illustration of this
subtle difference at any time in view
ing sculpture. There is calm nobil-
ity a dignity. about the simple pose of
the undraped Venus that the figure
which stands in a conscious, shrinking
attitude lacks altogether. 1t is the ad-
mission that there is anything to con-
ceal which suggests vulgarity when
the drapery is by accident disar-
ranged. At the costume show in Mad
ison Square Garden there were lay
figures dressed in cycling costumes in
order to show the various styles. Pass
ers-by invariably turned up the short
skirt of one of these images in order
to examine the unique leather binding
on the bottom. The short skirt was
only a lay figure but there was a vul-
gar suggestion in it's being lifted, which
did not pertain at all 10 the bloomer
suits, or even to those with knicker-
bockers. / think If this public differ
ence could De maze clear TO people,
there would be less hue and cry made
about bicycle costumes.
Il do not think that woman will ever
resign her flowing skirts for the draw
ing room or the ordinary vocations of
life, but when she goes out to take
part in active sports she should dress
appropriately l fail to see where the
long skirt worn when riding a bicycle
conveys an idea of modesty. In the
first place, the motion of the limbs,
which il is intended to conceal II
shows much more plainly than the
bloomers or full trousers. As a wo-
man sits on bicycle the plain front
breadths of the skirt fit smoothly over
the knees; no other skirt is usually
worn beneath ii. and the padding up
and down of the limbs looks anything
but graceful There are few accidents
from long skirts; one seldom hears of
any, but 1t is because the wearers are
extremely careful A woman wearinga
long street skirt on a bicycle looks to
me as much out of place as a yachting
suit would appear at a ball or a cycling
costume at reception.