The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-19
BLOoMERs FOR STREET WEAR.
Young Women Who Defy Wet Wealth.
er without skirts.

San Francisco amir
Only a few months ago some degree OF
courage was required On the part of a
woman whip wore bloomers even for the
purpose of bicycling. and when she left
her wheel she lost no time in dofing the
garments. Now the bioomer Is being
adopted for wet-weather raiment. Wo-
men walk the streets arrayed I'm boomers
and le~ggings. not disguised by so much as
a short skirt. There are not many OF
The pioneers Appeared last week. There
were two of them, and II may be imagined
before they started out they admonished
each other not TO weaken They did not
weaken. Perhaps in each feminine heart
there was a futter, but there was no out
ward sign of IL.
They knew that everybody stared. They
may have caught some sentiments OF dis
approval, but they marched along Mont
gomery street giving no heed. They did not
assume the unconscious air under which
acute self-consciousness sometimes seeks
tending to their own affairs. as indeed they
were. Men stopped 10 look, and some Of
them went on wagging their heads.
Women whose skirts were heavy with rain
and fringed with mud swept their drapery
aside with an air that was plainly an ex-
preston OF gratitude that they were modest
and soggy and uncomfortable. Yet for eli
the attention the bloomered pair attracted
IL was less than bestowed on the first bell
traiied along Market street by a fearless de-
voice OF fashion.
The women in boomers carried no umbrei-
Aocf " aI0 tANn' naft a IL
was plainly TO be seen that rain had no ter
rors for them when they were engaged I'm
defying; bufeting, and ultimately educating
the public opinion that would condemn them
TO the tyranny OF petticoats. A police oficer
looked at the two. bur said nothing-a cir
cumstance showing him wise In his genera
ton. for why the costume of a woman
should concern him is not easy 10 under
stand.
Both women $were OF good figure. OF
course. The degree OF bravery that would
impel a woman to display herself afoot in
boomers. II not blessed with shapeliness.
is something beyond human imagination.
Each had selected colors most becoming TO
her. One wore a tweed suit. light in color.
the baggy trousers reaching the knee Her
leggings Wee black, toque blue. and she had
shoes so feavy that they came down with a
thud. By way OF contrast. the other had dark
boomers: l~eggings OF tan. and toque OF
white. Each combination was effective.
Since they made their appearance their
example has been followed by several other
women. so many that it Is reasonable 70
suppose that before long the promenadins
boomer will excite no more attention than
the one that spins by on her wheel and IN
accepded as a matter OF Iact; PROVIDED; or
ments are muddy. Nevertheless. there II
stubborn opposition. The bloomer has the
disadvantage as a walking suit to be COM
Portable and TO have some basis In utility.
III IL were an absurd balloon sleeve now. or
a humped-up hustle decreed by fashion,. Il
would have clear sailing into popular es-
TEEN. Comments were various. An elderly
lady threw up her hands in unfeigned nor
ror. An apparent spirster also threw up
her hands. but doubts were expressed by
observers as to the genuineness OF her hor-
ror. Still. she may have been thinking OF.
the figure she herself would have cut un-
skirted and pantalooned. Several youna
women were heard to wish that they dared
TO follow the example so pluckily set.
The most ~outspoken demur came from
men. They did not say anything to the
bloomered folk. but they remarked that thew
would just like 10 see their wives logged out
like that. meaning that they would not like
IN eQa anvfhfpO of fha hind The ---
en- met a gentleman acquaintance. He Uas
not weak enough 10 betray surprise. Ho
tipped his hat politely. the greeting was
did not seem confused, and did not even
blush the least little bit. was probably their
greatest triumph of the day.