The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-22
LADIES AWHEEL.
The Boomer Question Discussed
From q Wearer's Standpoint.

men. may Heaven protect them. have
taken 1t upon themselves to tell us whether
we shall or shall not don these comfortable
garments, we have nothing to do but sit
back In some obscure corner and listen.
We don't promise to do just as the charm
ing creatures suggestive shall probably
60 on IN our own little way without even
trown on our snowy brows, wearing these
same "unwomanly and immodest" bits of
apparel. In a daily published in your
City l note the following, written by
woman who affirms that she is not a
Grabbed old maid:
women expect courtesy from men, but
L am very positive they won't receive il in
such an unwomanly costume. What man
admires an unwomanly woman? Not one.
he may devote time TO her and while
away the hours with her. but in his heart
do you think he respects her? No. Would
he care to have her for wife or the mother
of his children?
"Ah, MOI When his time comes to
choose a wife he will choose some maiden
who knows better how to rock cradle
than ride a wheel, and one who can give
him an appetizing meal even though she
never wore boomers or howled about
tyrant man."
Now, before 1 go farther, let me apollo
gize Tor taking spsk with the foregoing;
but texts are necessary, and that IS my
text.
Yes, "Margie," we do expect courtesy
from men-and, although you may not
believe it, we actually receive it-and in
boomers, too. Ye gods these sweet
creatures-society butterflies-nightly bare
their bosoms and shoulders to an admir-
ing throng of cynically wicked men. They
will blush with pleasure when the beauty
of that curve or this dimple is commented
will with
barred to the shoulder sway gently to and
fro in time with Sarah Bernhardtn waltz
and listen to things said that would make
the sun hide his blessed face behind a
cloud were they said III his hearing when
he was king. And yet these dear, sweet
womanly creatures will not wear a cos
tune which covers them securely from the
public gaze. They will not adopt a sport
which takes them nearer natures heart;
for-shallow beings that they are-to be
nearer nature, nearer God, means to them
only a realization of their own short
comings, and they don't want to realize
DO you think when man marrles .
woman he marries a nursegirl or a cook?
Why, he can hire them quite reasona bly,.
Methinks unless il be a marriage for
money or social position, that the average
man marTies with the hope that he is OBJ
tanning life companion-one in whom he
can coniide his sorrows as well as his
JOYS.
He is not going to choose a cook, but
chum; not Il babv-tender, but a sweet
wolnanly friend. Do you know to me
there is no sweeter tie possible between the
husband and wife than that trustful, Sc
rene friendship which grows out of long
acquaintance
Do You imagine for one moment that the
young men with whom we chat and ride
do not respect US because we wear bloom
ers? That is a broad statement, indeed. l
should be very unhappy if l thought that
for even one moment the respect my
friends have given me would be taken
awav from me because | wear the rational
costume l should dread the thought that
the sweet little maiden spinning by. chat
ting merrily with her promised husband,
did not possess his respect. Oh, the shame
of it To accuse those creatures upon
whom we are supposed to lean OF any
thing so unmanly. so degrading.
Oh, women, be womanly, be honest and
true. be pure in thought, word and deed,
and then wear any costume you will, and
it will be modest.
The girl who wheels her way to health
and happiness is better fitted a thousand
times for wifehood and motherhood than
the girl who takes her exercise (2) in a
French gown and swell carriage. She is
better fitted for wife because the exercise
brings her in contact with the world. She
has an opportunity OF studying humanity
such as she never had before. Thus her
ideas are broadened, she finds room in her
heart for so much more; she better under
stands the struggle in that word life; she
becomes the chum Of the man she marries.
Can you imagine a prettler picture than
that of two souls aglow with love being
united in play as well as work? Too often
the husband finds his pleasure at the club,
leaving the wife to seek hers where she
will, so our lawyers have their hands full,
and our Judges have their signature on
rubber stamp, so many papers have they
to ign.
We are not encroaching upon the rights
of the lords of creation when we adopt
bloomers-for they are peculiar to our sex
alone and belong wholly to US. Why don't
we raise a little tempest OF our own be-
cause the men wear those overcoats which
sweep the ground or those dressing gowns
OF dainty japanese silk, tied with cord and
tassel? Why don't we rebel because they
are going TO tie their cuffs with bows of
ribbon or because they wear those dis
tinctly feminine articles, g-rt-rs? Bah /!
It's all nonsense. We fin de steele girls are
going to be healthy happy lot. We are
going to bring healthy, happy children
into the world. We are going to have hus-
bands who prefer a spin in the country
with us to the best Manhattan cocktail.
Veal not going TO have the next genera
ton one given over to vlce-that IS what we
are fighting against, and nothing will take
a man away from the gilded palaces of sin
as will a bicycle-or rather two bicycles.
Girls let US Join hands, and with a long
pull and q strong pull settle this question
forever. We are AMY, we are modest,
but we wear them, and we are going to
wear them. We don't want 70 be like the
men. Heaven forbid! but we do want to
be sensible. We cannot be so and wear
street costumes upon the bicycle.
They will not respect us II we wear
boomers, ELI? Girls, the men who will
lose their respect for women because they
are sensible are hardly worthy OF a
thought. They are not quite men, you
know not the kind we invite TO our homes
or incline our heads graciously to when
we meet. for those who base their respect
upon costume are very like the obstru-
sive little puppy which thinks man a
tramp if he ISM in carriage, and we
don't care Tor them, you know. True men
(alas, that there are not more , think OF a
womans character - not her dress. To
chem she is woman, and as they hope to
have Others revere the women who brought
them into the world, SO do they revere
womaDhood.
The members of the Ladies' Cycling
(I,,h ,,-ilI on tho nvaDivo Of Jplv 4 enter