Evening star., 1895-06-01

DonS and every SupernuouS duotni,i,i,l o' =
as much out of place as they would De on
a riding habit, and detract just that mucn
from neat, trig effect a short JACKET
with the Indispensable pockets, is So se',-
orally becoming that women naturany WEI, ~
the weather was always cool enough 10
be able to wear them. AS for mats, some
thing to shield the eyes Is absolutely necSs-
sary. A lightweight sailor is probably the
best thing offered now. The soft Alpine
was the most comfortable while the
weather was suitable.
Caps with visors are probably the best OF
all headgear, but they are not pretty IN
fore 1t is not hard to see that they Will
never be widely adopted. il the halr Is
dressed very high straw sailor can be
most comfortably worn pinned on, ana IL
braided lew at the back, an elastic makes
1t the surest. stiff sailor hat Topping up
and down with the wind making half reVo-
lutiors on the hat pin, causes more annoy
ance than a misfit gown. and contributes
far more to the ungraceful appearance
presented by some of the new riders.
So much for the outside appearance. Te
dress properly for the wheel the under
garments must be built on Just as sure
lines. A short corset is absolutely neces-
sary. There are waists well boned, laced
together at the sides with elastic cords,
which have straps coming over the shoul-
ders and buttons at the back and on the
hips, to which the skirt if one is worn,
may be securely fastened. If the ordinary
corset is worn, it must be very short on
the hips, otherwise the movements are as
much restricted as would be the case If
buttoned around the wrist.
Two-thirds of the riders are now wear
ing knickerbockers, or "knicks." instead
of the usual skirt. They are made of q
lighter weight than flannel but conform
to the outside skirt in color. White skirts
are worse than useless. An alpaca skirt
end ''knicks" make a good combination.
The former must be lined, or it will be too
will wear as well as the other. Leggings
are more used in New York than here 1t
is too warm here from this time forward,
and there are other objections, as they
somewhat hamper free movements.
A comfortably fitting buttoned or laced
loot is considered better and safer than q
low shoe, as the latter gives no protection
Cr support to the ankle. -aa--
There are a great many devices to keep
the skirts down. Weights and such like
have been tried, but, besides reminding the
rider OF their presence by smart raps now
and then, have not accomplished any prac-
tical results The next best thing is to
have an elastic strap sewed to each side
of the skirt just below the knee. The exact
place must be determined when the wo-
man is mounted. Slipping the foot through
this, or having loop hanging from it, to
button on either the leggings if worn or
the top button OF the boots, will certainly
keep any skirt not too wide in place.
For costumes made by any but profess
sional habit makers, who, of course, Will
take no dictation, 1t may be well to suggest
that the skirt ought to be a trife longer
in front than the back. Serge dresses of
the styles of year before last, pretty much
every woman has one two of them, made
a little shorter all around and considera-
bly, so at the back and with the opening at
the side most convenient, will answer all
practical purposes, and a woman's natural
ingenuity will soon develop the other es-
sentials.
The fashionable habit makers are getting
all the way from S35 or $40 to $50 for the
smart suits they have turned out lately.
They are made to fit as symnetrically as
the ordinary tailor. dress and are made
of whipcord cheviot or covert cloth. Some
of them are weird arrangements of straps
and fixings. but are probably not likely TO
give any more satisfaction than one laid
out in a less complicated design.
Ready-made suits are plentiful and popu-
lar, because of their cheapness, and If
they are well sewed ought to answer all
the demands. Amateur dressmakers are
going to turn out most of the new rigs
hereabouts or have done so already. In
fact, the woman who has a good bicycle
skirt pattern is much toadied-to individ-
ual just at present and can dictate her
terms in the way of friendly regard in
loaning it among her acquaintances.