The herald., 1895-07-28
WOMAN DOES NOT SWIM IN A SKIRT

As am not the owner of bicycle and
have never ridden one. 1t has never
seemed my business to decide what other
women should wear. Now that you ask
my opinion on this function "of such
special interest. am inclined first of
all to protest against the attention the
woman bicycler is receiving. The Ill
health of American women has long been
deplored by all who have thought on the
subject and all agree that lack of vigor-
GUS outdoor exercise has been the Chi Of
reason for that III health. The bicycle
promises to be the gretest boon to health
that American women have known. 1t
should on that account be welco med by
men and women alike, for men suffer quite
as much from the Ill health of women as
women hemselves. The continued news
paper comments on the subject frighten
the nervous, timid women who would be
most helped physically by the use of the
bicycle. and who would. but for this con.
slant criticism, be using the alth.giv-
ing wheel.
To use the wheel to advantage a dress
that will not hinder the action of muscles
nor interfere with the motion Of the
wheel is necessity. A skirt acts as
sail to interfere with rather than to accel
crate motion. 1t is an absolute obstacle
in the road of the woman who wears it on
the wheel. No woman of sense tries to
swim in skirt. Why should she wheel
in one?
The skirt impsdes her progress in
one case as much as the other. The
bloomer is not only sensible because
adapted to its use, but it is tidy and
modest as well-tidy because out of the
dirt, and modest because 1t oonceals the
figure. II woman selects it in prefer
ence to a short skirt-a long skirt is out of
the question for woman OF sense-it is
hor -. Of foi nd n4k v,,svn h,,&
mire her courage as well as her wisdom
Tor 1t. l have words Of censure for the
immodest exposures of person that every
ball room furnishes. and for the extrava-
gance Of style which dictates that yards
OF material shall be put into sleeves serv-
ing no purpose but to jostie their owner
into prominence, and force her upon the
attention of every passer-by. abhor the
untldiness of the long skirt on the street,
and deplore the wickedness of the tight
ly corseted waist, but for the bloomers,
which make outdoor exercise for wo-
men fascinating delight, nave only
commentator and admiration.
Most men. find, recognize tho suita-
bility OF the garment, and admire it
good, mechanical sense counts with men
but would like to be able to force
every man who makes disrespectful re-
marks upon boomers to don long, close
fitting skirt, mount q bicycle, and ride
five miles against the wind: If he re-
mained obdurate I would. if 1 could.
doom him to wife who never takes out
door exercise.
May l make one more protest-although
not directly in the line of your sympo-
SUM? If by the new woman is meant
i say If, for I am not sure that know
what the so.caIled new woman is-the
woman prominent as a thinker, it is a
mistake to- put her ona wheel. She is
not there. II she were, l am not sure but
she would be stronger in thought as she
would be stronger in body. but l repeat.
she il not on wheel. She will be some
day, as all women will, but the DAY has
not yet cume.
Yours. for freedom and SUITABILITY Of
dress for women,