Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-24
AN ADVOCATE OF BOOMERS
A Wheelwoman Who Has Tried Them Rec
ommends Them.
They Are Not Immodest and They
Permit of Freedom in
Pedaling.

|
I was out riding my wheel one of
| these brisk fall days. The wind was high
my skirt long. and if ever the desire was
! strong upon my soul to don the boomers
| knickerbockers, or whatever term is ap-
piled to the bifurcated garment, twas that
| same afternoon. There 1 was struggling
| against the wind, presenting the appear
| arce of a yacht with sails spread, and
| using as much energy as would have suf-
| feed to carry a man three times the DIS
| lance. My temper was ruffied as my
skirt.
| 1 thought then how foolish we women
| are to be SO bound down by clothes. so
| ruled by inanimate things. Here is one of
| the most sensible and healthful of exer-
cises, from the full enjoyment of which We
are practically debarred by our mode of
dress. Physically weaker than men, our
| movements are handicapped by garments
utterly unsuited to the wheel Yet We Won
| der why. Weaklings, every one of us, to
calmly endure the bondage instead of ris-
ing bravely and saying, I'VE will be COM
| Portable; we will assert our right to the
| free use Of life and limb" particularly the
latter.
Such radical thoughts were whirling in
my brain when I met friend, also on the
| wheel, and we dismounted to rest a while
and talk. Naturally the conversation
| for the wheel. My friend strongly advo-
| Gated the short skirt. Compromise" she
urged, wear knickerbockers. short skirt
and leggins reaching to the knee and see
| how you like it." The result was a new
| suit. patterned after my friends sugges-
| tons. l have tried it, and find it better
| than the long skirt. but the same old
| trouble arises-the current of air caused by
| the rapid progress simply throws the skirt
| right back in the lap, exposing the knick-
erbockers underneath
The Eject of Bloomers.
Later my attention was directed to a
young woman in boomers. They were of
| medium siZe-rot too full, nor yet scant
| enough to be called knickerbockers. She
| sat her wheel perfectly, pedaled with that
| mechanical precision so indicative of the
good rider, and made her way with a mind
free ofsthe dread of catching skirts. The
| leggfns reached to the knee, and there
was not the slightest exposure. With the
addition of pretty shirt waist and neat
| cap she was decidedly natty and possessed
the advantage of being able to ride farther
and with less fatigue than could one ham
pered by long skirts.
Practical Experience.
I know this to be a fact, having tried it
| to my own satisfaction on a recent tour
down the Shenandoah valley. Boomers
were worn during the entire trip. An aver
age was made OF forty-five miles a day.
and the perfect freedom Of the limbs, I'M
| hfndered by yards and yards Of material
was delightful. The scenery was beautiful
| In going down mountain we back-pedal-
| ed all the way and reached the bottom
| without once touching the brake, feat of
which we were somewhat proud. Such
| thing would have been utterly impossible
| with skirts. Riding down hill at rapid
pace, the whole attention fixed on the road
and the management of the wheel, a catch
| Ing of the skirt means hard fall and the
n fhn 1av.t
Few Strong Leaders Needed.
1t is said by the conservatives that the
| boomers are worn only by the vulgar, who
hope to gain thereby a bit of cheap rotor
ETY.. This is partly true; some exaggerated
| types of this new dress are seen on women
whom one would not wish to know. But
| this can in no wise detract from the good
Of the movement. Let few strong lead
ers, sure of their position, adopt boomers;
the more timid will follow. and what seems
to be an innovation will soon become
| custom. The men are liberal and broad
minded with few exceptions). readily &C
knowledging the Improvement; but tits the
women themselves who cry down the in
augurators of reform tending to free
| them from a bondage of heavy skirts and
tight, uncomfortable garments.
Not Immodest.
Boomers are said to be immodest I'M
modesty consists largely in suggestion. If
tHeTe Is any IN DlOOneTS II lies IN the MIND
of the prudish onlooker. The garments are
not tight-fitting; they simply give freedom
to the limb while Disgusting its shape
have noticed the popularity that the wo-
men who are most vigorous and unyield-
ing In their denunciatiOn of boomers are
the very ones who several years ago when
tight skirts and pinbacks were the rage,
were seen in clothes which more nearly
outlined the whole figure than boomers
could ever do.
To the conservative woman bowling low
to the traditions of her grandmother, and
to the theoretical designer of bicycle cos
tunes, the idea of boomers does not ap-
peal. But for the healthy minded young
woman who aims to get all the benefit and
enjoyment possible out of her wheel this
article is written. She knows the trials
and difficulties attendant upon the wear
ing of skirts on the wheel; she knows the
labor of pushing against the wind with
sail spread; and for her / wish all the free
dom Of body intended by the Allwise
Father when he gave to her. as well as to
her brother. two legs to pedal with. NJ z.