Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-01-22
BI.OOMERS.

DlNtOh LIMO
Before bicycling became craze with
women there had never been even so
much as the shadow Of quarrel be-
| tween Mr. and Mrs Cranston. But
after Mrs. Cranston bought a bicycle
and learned to ride well there was a
disagreement which came very near
breaking up happy home. They had
been married three years, and they had
often said that their married life had
been one long honeymoon.
Tom had yielded so readily to all Of
his wife's whims that she had uncon-
sciously gained an opinion that her word
was to him like the laws Of the Medes
and the Persians.
But this idea was oil knocked to
pieces when one morning as they sat ut
breakfast Mrs. Cranston said:
"Tom. I'm going to order my dress
maker TO make n suit OF bloomers for
me today. do so much bicycling now
| that skirts are too heavy for me.
"What'' shouted Tom, dropping his
spoon in the oatmeal.
Mrs. Cranston also dropped her spoon
and looked in surprise at her husband.
II said, she repeated. THAT | was
| going 10 get bloomer suit What
strikes you as particularly strange about
that?"
What strikes me as particularly
| stranger he repeated. with wild look
in his eyes. ''Do you think for one in
slant that j will allow my wife to race
around town looking like a lithogaph
Of variety entertainment? Not much. "
But, Tom, said Louise in a tone
that had never failed to persuade her
husband that she was right and that he
was wrong, Il don't sec why | cant
have bloomers. Mrs Kynaston and
Mrs Bentley and Mrs Jennings all
wear them, and their husbands don't
object, so why should your
''lt makes no difference why /
should, said Tom doggedly. Il don't
intend to have my friends on the ex-
change coming to me and saying, Tom.
sco your wife's wearing bloomers.
Not If know it, p"
But. Tom, she began, "I"-
"Oh. don't talk any more nonsense,
Louise" he broke in. Il am sick OF 1t.
You shan't wear bloomers, so that set
ties it. 4" And Mr.. Cranston, whose appe'
tite had been taken entirely away by
his wife's announcement. got mp from
the table and started for the door.
''Goodbyl" h called from the hall,
and then the door slammed. and Louise
sat at the breakfast table wondering
how ii was that she had never before
known that her husband had a will of
his own.
She had told all her friends only the
day before that she would be wearing
bloomers within week, and when they
had suggested that her husband might
object she had said:
What! Tom object? Why. he never
objects TO anything
And now Tom had absolutely refused
to allow her to wear them, with facial
expression which showed that he would
not stop short Of the divorce courts to
prevent IT,
Finally she arose from the table and
went To her room.
She had al idea which, she thought.
II properly carried out, would gain
y 20 Ia. of hl.Cfn.
ers She wrote hurried note 60 her
dressmaker ordering q blooner suit Of
a pattern which she had already select
ed and then donned her old bicycle suit
to pay call to Mrs. Kynaston. who
had husband who did not object 10
bloomers
She told her troubles to the vivacious
Mrs Kynnston, who was not spariDg IL
her sympathy for the poor friend who
had narrow minded husband who OBJ
jected TO convenient bicycle dress.
why, how foolish of himr' she said.
Il don't believe the poor man has ever
seen proper bicycling costume. III
tell you what well do Well all so
bicycling this afternoon and come back
By your house at Just the time your
husband gets home, and he will see
what bloomcr suit looks like"
And so the bicycle party was arrang'
ed, and when Thomas Cranston arrived
ut his home that evening he saw five
women riding in front Of tho house, and
four Of them were in full bloomor cos.
tune. The fifth, who wore skirts, was
ais wife.
He was not so badly shocked as he
thought he would be, and he wished
that he had not been so decided in his
refusal of his wife's request, but he made
mp his mind that it would be unmanly
tc yield after his remarks Of the morn
ing, and so, with bow to his wife and
her companions, he went indoors and
began TO dress for dinner.
That night Louise again broached the
subject Of bloomers, but her husband
silenced her by saying:
Now, see here. Louise. don't speak
to me about bloomers again. You may
go in for women's rights if you like,
and you may wear standing collars AMI
mems waistcoats, but you shall not
wear trousers, even if bicycling does
justify it in your eyes. "
Trousers cried Louise indignant
ly. "Who said anything about trousers:
| was talking about bloomers.
II know you were," said Mr. Grams.
ton, "and please don't talk about them
any more I'm tired of it, and ] won't
hear 1t mentioned again.
The next morning when Mr.. Grams.
ton put on his coat to start for his Office
his wife called him back and said:
tom, III promise never to mention
bloomers again. but If you ever change
your mind about them please tell me.
for I'm really very anxious to wear
them.
The smile which for "a hours had
been absent from Tom Cranston's face
came again, and he kissed his wife.
THAT'S a dear good girl. Louise, "
be said. 81 hated to refuse your request,
but really don't like the idea of youi
wearing those things. And now if there
is anything else you want me to do for
You Just name it, and I'll do it. F"
He went away, but returned in mo-
ment and called ont:
"Oh, Louise, I'm going to dinner
at the club tonight, and ! want you to
have my dress suit handy when l come
home. Goodby."
"Now, then," said Louise as she
went up stairs. "I'll see If can't make
| pr NJ, ~Lo,co L;o oD;niau ahout