Evening star., 1896-10-20
BLOOMERS SHOCKED THE PASTOR
Since Then He Has Lain Awake Nights
Thinking of Them.

Thinking of Them.
From the Philadelphia Times.
The woman's congress of Philadelphia,
held under the auspices of the Temple
College, at Broad and Berks streets, be-
gan its years work yesterday afternoon
with the first Of the long series of lectures
which ii will have delivered during the
winter. The speaker was the Rev. DIR.
Russell H. Conwell, pastor OF the Grace
Baptist Church. and his subject was
Woman and the Wheel" The pertinency
Of the title and a hope that DIR. ConyeIl
would say something about bloomers
brought large number CT women to the
hall There were exactly two in bicycle
costume. They looked nervous.
DR.. Conwell opened tine meeting with a
prayer for its success. and then gave an
outline Of the purposes and scope of the
society, during which the two women
looked relieved.
Friends" began DR. Conwell, this bicy-
Gle question has lcpt me awake at night.
here at last seems to be the opportunity
offered for woman to get that exercise the
lack Of which has prevented her from as
yet becoming tne equal 20 man. Viii she
seize tnat opportunity or Will she lose ii,
as she alis sady mas. In my opinIon, lost
dancing, considered as a nealthful exer-
else? She needs it, as any one can see il
he Will only look at the girl students at
this college after two months of study.
Pale, heavy-eyed, they soon require long
vacations and lose valuable time. while
their parents imagine that education is not
good for theu
Women need more exercise; they can
get ii on the bicycle. But right here
comes in that vexing question of dress.
When ladies first used the bicycle they
used the same modest dress they used for
walking. Now, this was found to be un-
healthy, and the dress was shortened the
desire being at first to get that dress
which should be the most modest and the
most convenient. Here a great moral and
religious question con:e up. Woman's
vanity. always ready in some mysterious
way to combat with her modeSty, arose
and dresses were and are worn the owners
or which Qve got to speak with freedom)
locked up. While looking out OF ,ny win
dow on Broad street 1 saw two women
on mems wheels. Ny heart bled and 1
couid hardly restrain the tears, shocked,
as was, beyond expression. The ex-
tremes TO which you are tending to go
seem to US men fmmodest.
Now, can't there be movement among
the women to save the bicycle? Other
wise, 1t will go the way dancing has gone
ana pure-ininded, noble woman will be
unable to extract the enjoyment and ex-
ercise from it that she ought to. \ skirt
tnat reaches to the knee only and the
boomers which tend to approach a mans
costume, are sure to destroy the use of
the wheel. So also do loud colors and
Iidlng with the seat too far back or too
low, positions which make the woman look
like an umbrella in a cyclone. Again ask
you, Can't you save the wheel?
would myself suggest 4 congress, with
a large prize for the most modest and
convenient costume. opa1 to women only.
Or, if you would wish to open it to men
and charge an admission you could pack
the Academy. Ard If you let them vote
you would I'm sure, secure a good result,
for men want women 10 keep as modest
looking as they have done In the MAST
Then a noble woman will ride dressed as
she knows is right, and the others will be
arrested by the police. 1 look 10 you to
start the movement"
At the close of DIR. Ccnwelrs speech a
committee OF ten was named TO confer
about the proposed congress. They will
report next week.
Neither of the two bicyclists present had
on bloomers. and since their skirts vent
below the knee they marched proudly Gut
and wheeled off,