The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-06-06

There are 500 American girls studying art in
| Paris.
One OF the new embroidery patterns is spray
piece. These double roses are most difficult to
embroider; the shading, ourving, and turning
of the petals and tho sharpening of the thorns
can only DO done by artistic perceptions and
deft fngers.
| They are having funny little fuss over
| Boomers in Ann Arbor. One of the girl stu
douts, who is also a bicyclcr. got into the habit
of wearing her Boomers around her boarding
| house-she wore thefp around her atthe board
| ng-house. The mistress of the house objected;
said she would not have it at all in her house,
and the girl gave in. The story slipped out,
and all the BoOmer girl students in the town
are in active sympathy with the abused girl,
| as they deem her.
-
| 1t has only been within q week or go that
Washington girls have begun wearing bicycle
costumes. For many years women clerks and
teachers have known that with a bicycle they
could easily 60 long distances over the smooth
streets to their work; but they only wore their
| regular working dress. Then this Spring time,
| while the papers were telling of the doings of
the bicycle girls in other cities, one might &C.
casionally see an immaculate equipsge drawn
up on the side Of the dusty yellow road back
of the White House, with the driver and foot
man in immovable attitudes, trim maid rest
ing comfortably within the carriage, and way
out the road n struggling GIRL with uncon-
trollable feet aud legs, wobbly bicycle, and a
patient, dusty teacher. One realized, taking the
whole scene in. that bicycling wa sure enough
stylish.
The other day 10 or 90 maidens came out N
the full light of day in bicycle suits. They
all wore shirt-waists and jackets. but some had
short, faring, stiffened skirts with neat CATERS,
and others wore Boomers and CATERS. OF the
two, the Boomers look much more graceful
and modest on the wheel, while off the wheel
the skirts have these advantages. ....-
Most women are ungraceful riders because
they sit far back on the seat, hold on like grim
Death to the handle-bars, and work the pedals
with an almost horizontal motion of their
limbs. Especially, stout woman looks ridicu-
lous when she rides this way. woman who
sits forward her seat-perches on it-holds
her head up and her shoulders straight, works
the pedals with a straight up-and-do1n move
ment of her limbs, and holds the handles light
ly, will have perfect control Of her machine,
and will sway, skim, and fly along grace
fully as a bird A woman who rides well and
all Lo,, hat linz ia not
ungraceful; but men and stout women will
always furnish proofs of its awkwardness.
re-
A Chicago Alderman is trying to get an
ordinance through prohibiting women wearing
Bloomers in that city
Boomers nowadays does not mean the short
skirts and long trousers that Mrs. Bloomer
wore, and most nngainly outfit IL must have
been, but full Turkish trousers, gathered in
just above or below the knee, and looking very
much like a short full skirt, except that when
any movement is made is will be readily OBJ
served that there is skirt for each leg. The
modern Boomers are both modest and graceful.
1t is to bo hoped that, with all this agitation
on the subject and with women actually try
ing these costumes, some street anu WORKING
and rainy-day dress may be hit upon also Long
dresses are desirable for wear in houses, on
lawns or out driving; but for wear dusty
or muddy streets, or in kitchens or while run
ming up and down stairs, tending babies, max
ing beds, and gardening. more convenient
robes could be devised. The question of dress
anyway, is all a matter of habit. IL one can
get used to bustles-and every woman must
confess she did accustom herself to them
then short skirts or Boomers ought not to be so
difficult to don. Women have given too many |
examples of extraordinary changes in styles to !
complain that they cannot become so conspcu-
Gus as shorter skirts Or Boomers would make |
Thorn.