St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-30
DRY GOODS SALESWOMEN MUST
WEAR ORDINARY WALKING
COSTUMES AT work,
BICYCLE W0MEN's HABITS
MUST BE MODEST AND ORTHODOX
-BLOOMERS EFT AL, ARE
PROHIBITED.
INDIGNATION
ARISES,
SOME
But the CaImer Heads Prevail and
Precipitate Opposition VIII
Not BE Made.

1t was an indignant party of dry
goods saleswomen that gathered in
j. o. o. F. hall yesterday afternoon
to discuss the recent edict of the de-
partment store magnates that they
should not be allowed to appear in
the counters with any bicycle suit
differing essentially from ordinary
walking costume.
1t appears that, while the merchants
are encouraging the rational dress fad,
the bloomer craze, the divided skirt,
the sweater and all the other devices
for relieving feminine pocketbooks for
pretty things, they have determined to
draw the line, and only a full skirt,
ankle length. will fulfill the demands
for the costume to be worn by their
female employees of mature age.
The young women in the dry goods
stores, like all classes of humanity,
have been inoculated more or less ef-
fectiVely with the prevailing bicycle
malady, and while its ravages are
less wide in their ranks, perhaps on
account of the fatiguing character of
their daily employment, yet there is
q change in the bicycle exercise that
has been esteemed by some of them
worthy a trial And, with this con-
clusion reached, they were the more
desirous Of appearing in strictly up to
date toggery, that they might sustain
not only their own, but their en-
ployers' regulations for leading the
fashions. Here they reckoned without
their hosts. The same men who made
lavish efforts to cater to the best class
of the bicycle trade. with inviting
costumes, conservative or radical in
spiringly artistic or plainly practical,
insist that these costumes are to be
shown on dummies, and not on sales
women.
1t seemed a rigorous rule, and the
speeches which were made at yester-
day afternoons conference rang with
the same annoyed, petulant tone, which
characterizes the average dry goods
clerk as she calls each" about 1915
p. m. on Christmas eve. There was
rather more of fire in the tone how
ever, for there was some righteous in
dignation manifested. 1t was main
tanned by the young woman presiding,
whose name and location are with
held from courtesy alone, that it was
an unjust discrimination. Surely, If
the costumes sold by their employers
were fit for any woman to wear, they
were not unsuitable for the girls who
Sold them, even as they did so.
There was talk of an appeal to pub
lie sympathy, looking to the rescind-
ment of the obnoxious edict, but it
was finally decided that no precipi-
tate action should be taken. The diff
ference between the wearing of such
costumes at business and at recrea-
tion, and also the difficulty which
would arise in the endeavor to draw
the line between decency and indie
cency, between grace and hideousness,
was canvassed, and led the maidens to
act very conservatively. So, having
IN view the fact that the ankle rul-
ing was safe, If it was not satisfactory,
1t was decided to go no farther at
present than to trust to such a modi-
f1catiOn of the present arbitrary pro-
hibition as would leave the propriety
of the costume desired to be worn to
the verdict of some capable judges,
preferably a committee of the meet
Ing of yesterday, or, if more agreeable
to the employers, to such a committee
of women in private life as might be
secured to take UP with interest the
cause of their sisters behind the coun-
ters.
The meeting adjourned subject to
the call Of the chairman.
1t is Hardly Worth Any Ones While
to take the risk of waiting for a
Cough, Cold, or any Lung Trouble "to
30 as it came" when a remedy, so sure
and thorough as DR.. D. Jayne's Ex-
pectOrant is so easilv nrocI1ra h1e