Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-24
Highest of all in Leavenng Power-Laet Govt Report
R1!azl!!! RBakiRs
ABSOLUTELY PURE
THE BLooMER QUESTION.
The Sharp Discussion Over the Bath
Ing Costume Recalled.

The Sharp Discussion Over the Bath
Ing Costume Recalled.
From the Philadelphia Press.
The bicycle costume of women is facing
the struggle through which the female
bathing costume passed twenty-five years
ago.
Seaside bathing on any large. gregarious
scale began after the war. 1t existed be-
fore. There was not much Of 1t. When
bathers began to multiply along the New
Jersey coast women were wearing skirts
which came below the knee and shapeless
MOI strosities in waists 1t was impossible
for any woman to swim or enjoy herself in
the surf with this clothing. and 1t added
very seriously to the risks of bathing.
There was a great outcry in the carly
seventies, when daring young women who
had been at Dieppe and Biarritz, on the
French coast, shortened their skirts, cut
their waists to fit, and, in general reefed
their bathing dresses in all directions. Ex-
actly the same criticism was made which
is now heard on the subject of bloomers on
bicycles. Good people objected to the short
bathing dresses. Mice people" hesitated
about wearing them. The newspapers
made fun of them.
In spite of all this, the short skirts won:
They are seen on every beach. Every one
wears them. All conventions are fully sat
isfied by them. They are useful. They are
seemly. They are graceful. A woman
thing else. The world, all worlds-the So
cial, the religious, the feminine and even
the masculine world (silliest OF all on these
matters)-have accommodated themselves
to the shert skirts and exposed legs of the
bathing dress.
On the bicycle, skirts are in the way.
They are a nuisance They catch on the
wheels. They twist into the dust guards.
They catch the wind and balloon into ugly
shaLes. They worry nervous and sensitive
women as to the precise exposure in pro-
gress about the boot tops. Occult tapes
and bands are invented and advertised
down to proper behavior.
Blccmers and legglns are the next nat
ural step. They provide costume suited
and seemly. Objection Is made. So there
was to the short bathing skirts. The new
costume is a shock. So was the old. 1t is
the subject of unpleasant remark and some
remarks which are worse than unpleasant
But it is right. 1t meets the needs of
new situation. Social conventions and the
COL ventions of dress will accommodate
TT emselves to the new costume just as they
did to the bathing dress. and. as with skirts
in the surf, five years from now the
"ricest" and most fastidious will be wear
ing costumes at which the most daring
now hesitate.
cession to foolish prejudice. In our sum-
mer climate they are hot and uncomfort-
able. They add cost. They wear out rapid
ly. Being conspicuous. they have to be
risk, and no small one, and loose strap
or button may mean serious fall. Why
wear them? How altogether sensible the
women are who are appearing on the BIZ
cycle with boomers that come to the knee
and stockings below.
Nor should one thing be forgotten. These
changes are most easily made and made to
the best purpose by those who enjoy a
reco gnized position in society They owe a
duty to all other women. There is none
which such women should take more pains
in meeting and discharging, just at present.
than the adoption and wear Of the only
sensible costume on a bicycle-bloomers to
the knee and stockings beyond.