The record-union., 1896-06-07
WHEELVOMEN'S COSTUMES.
What an Eastern Physician Says on the
Subject.
Some Suggestions and Advice That
May Be of Interest to
Women.

Women.
In a late number of the Outlook" I"
DR. r. L. Dickinson considers at length
costumes for women bicyclists, with a
view first to health, second to grace,
third to fashion, fourth to comfort,
though this fourth" runs through all
the other considerations. The article
is too long for the Record Union" to
quote in full. SO we content ourselves
with statement of the main points.
The costume should afford greatest
freedom and most contribute to health.
No problem more troubles the medical
adviser There are four types of cos
tune: % The full knickerbocker; (2)
the fuller long bloorner; CD the short
skirt with leggings; (4) the skirt to the
top of the toe. The last is decreed by
fashion for the thin woman and leisure
ly rider on level roads, and for the shy
woman it is suitable garment. One
in this costume can step off the wheel
into the house or shop in proper walk
ing dress. But if the skirt is no more
than two and half to three yards it
is liable to catch in the rear sprocket.
1t is uncomfortable at the knee, as it
has to lift up and forward half the
weight of the skirt, and in a wind is
difficult to manage.
But these difficulties are in measure
overcome if the skirt is cut to fall in
two equal pleats, box or folded, one on
each side the rear wheel. with satin or
silk knickerbockers underneath. Then,
too, a silk or satin lining enables the
give" over the knee 10 be more free.
So, too, a broad band of leather, or rows
Of stitching, helps to keep the skirt
down.
The best combination for comfort is
the separate jacket skirt and shirt
waist, for the body covering that can be
taken off in hot rides is hygienically
very desirable. But the stout rider
must shun horizontal lines that empha-
size breadth. For cooler weather this
may be overcome by the princess idea,
with long perpendiculars behind, and by
false jacket in front to conceal alb
dcminal prominence. There should be
with these riders no fullness about the
hips in the skirt, which should lie in
pleats front and rear.
There are many devices for changing
the long skirt in TO the short and for con-
verting the skirt into bloomers by
means of tapes running through eyes.
In some cases the lower edge of the
skirt is gathered in at the bottom and
a front piece unbuttoned and removed.
The bloomer falling to the top of the
calf, well hung, moderately full, with
either leggings or stockings, is modest
and well adapted to the need To the
right woman, rightly designed, he holds
it to be the most becoming costume
The doctor holds that with the decline
OF prudery the closer fitting clothes for
arduous work or for play will at no
distant day find their natural place.
Baggy sleeves have no place on the
wheel; the Eton jacket is not ungrace-
full, but the longer jacket fitted at the
back and loose In front is every way bet
ter. Coat tails falling below the saddle,
on the other hand, blow In the wind
AS for headgear, the doctor insists on
protection for the eyes. The bicycle
face so called, is mainly 'sun-scowl." +"
Any hat should, therefore, have suffi-
cient visor. The usual feminine street
hat, all feathers and flowers, is all out
of place on the wheel. For the feet. pro-
vide preferably the high shoe 1t is
warmer and keeps out sand and dirt
and wet. But its top makes an ugly
line. Then, the low shoe, with a
shoe sun -gaiter will meet the case and
fill the bill AS to corsets-well, to
wheel we'll one must breathe well. One
fifth Of the breathing capacity is done
away with by the loose corset or health
waist; the sweep Of the diaphragm with
each breath, that is wrongly said to be-
long only to men, is nearly stopped, with
all the sluggish action and circulation
that follows. Better clothing will de-
velop in civilized women what all saw
ages or animals of either sex practice.
and that is like habits of respiration and
muscular activity.
Practically, the steps of the change
are, when taken gradually. these:
LCosened corset, Wristbands, and
basque; health waists, union undergar-
ments, and substitution of equestrian
tights for the woolen petticoat; and.
lastly. abolition of Wristbands except
for light skirts, though leaving the hips
certain share of weight to carry. bv
the general princesse or Empire form
for heavier dresses, or a gown-form for
every heavy skirt, the dress lining being,
carried up into skeleton BASQUE and
the breasts being supported from above.
not from below
Abroad. both in England and on the
Continent, the short corset is in-gen-
eral use. Redfern says he can persuade
no woman to wear them in New York
1t may be noted here that at a meeting
or prominent specialists at the New
York Academy of Medicine. in the dis
cussion of bicycling for women by men
who rode themselves, each speaker had
words OF strong commendation for the
exercise, but each emphatically added a
warning against riding in corsets and
tight clothing.
A new mime has been discovered near
the famous Colorado group in Sonora.
Mexico. The mine was sold for S25 600