Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-08

tention. This you will all admit to be
nothing but proper.
Bicycle riding, while it is deprecated
by physicians may be beneficial to the
health of women; and, while 1T may re-
quire a convenient or comfortable cos
tune, it does not require a mode of dress
which would subject the wearer to severe
criticism
In some less civilized countries women
are obliged to perform the work of the
lazy men. Under these circumstances
they wear suitable dress.
A woman dressed in Hungarian style
would not attract unusual notice in Hun
gary but If aswoman in America should
dress up in Hungarian costume and walk
down the street, a jeering mob of boys
and men would soon be following her,
whooping, whistling and making fun.
In New York a restaurant keeper hav-
ing girls to wait on the tables, decided to
have them dress in boomers in order to
attract trade. All of the girls were at
first very much opposed to such plan.
Finally enc of them consented. A cos
tune was bought for her and on the next
morning she donned it and went about
her duties. Very soon crowd of men,
bookblacks and newsboys. began to con-
gregate around the entrance of the res
taurant, attracted there by the sight of
the girl dressed in bloomers. Finally the
crowd was dispersed by the police. What
do you suppose were the feelings of this
girl? How terribly embarrassed she
must have been If she had any modeSty
about her!
The congregation was quietly seated in
a western church, waiting for the SER
vices to commence, probably anticipat-
ing a good sermon, when suddenly in
walked the organist, dressed in fiery red
boomers; her wheel she had left at the
door. perhaps it would have been bet
ter if she had stayed out harself) The
people were SO shocked that they left the
church in disgust.
1t requires a great deal of NERVE" for
a woman to come before civilized people
dressed in such a manner. We expect
show women to dress as they do, but We
do not expect and we do not approve of
ladies of America dressing when they go
on the streets in such way as to make
one expect to see trapeze performance
Whether she walks or whether she gees
on bicycle, let her dress so as to COM
mand the respect of every one with whom
she may come in contact. No woman
with any modesty wha tever would ride
through the streets with boomers on.
You might say that there is neither
| modesty nor immodesty inherent in
clothes; that 1t resides in woman and
not in her garments; but woman cannot
show her modesty or immodesty mcs'e
plainly than In her dress. If she is i'm
| modest she shows 1t in her dress. A mod
est woman attires herself in such man
ner that you know her whenever and
wherever you see her No modest woman
| will wear that which she knows will be
severely criticized. Let us protest against
| 1t. 1t is blot on the landscape. 1t is in
artistic and revolving and we should pro-
| test against 1t. Anything which attracts
glaring attention becomes an impropri-
ETY.. Anything that does not conform to
| the public sense of right Is an impropri-
ETY.. Anything which when worn by a
woman causes her to lose her natural
shyness, her timdity, her self-respect, is
an improperly We have shown that
wearing boomers when riding a bicycle
attracts glaring attention. that it calls
| forth adverse criticism; that 1t does not
conform to the public sense of right; that
| it lowers a woman in the estimation of
| others, and causes her to lose her self
| respect; that 1t causes her to smother
| those qualities which make woman 50
sweet, so lovely, so inspiring to all Gre
alton. ELVIRA c. LEWIS.
Mrs. Margaretta Chunn after long
| illness, died in Washington city on the
| 10Th of February. Mrs Chunn and her
| family have many friends in Birming-
ham who will be deeply distressed to
hear of her death. The following tribute
| from friend Is published with pleasure:
| long and beautiful life, characterized
| by cheerful, unselfish ministries to the
| comfort and happiness of others, has just
ended it's mission.
On the goth of February Mrs. Marga-
| retta Chunn, after severe and long con-
| tinued suffering, entered into eternal rest
| from her home in Washington, d. c. To
| this place she and her daughters removed
| from Birmingham soon after the death
| of Mr.. Chunn In 1893
Mrs. Chunn was married in North Car
| DINA, her native state Five of her chill
| dren survive her. Her vigorous intellect.
developed under generous culture and
| guided by Christian principles. eminently
| fitted her for the various relations in life
| she so admirably sustained as daughter
sister, wife, mother and friend. Several
| of her poems, published in Wood Notes
| of North Carolina" bear evidence of her
| literary taste and culture. Her friend
| ships were ardent and steadfast, and her
cheerful devotion to her family made
| hers a charming home. She loved life
| and wished to live, that even under her
| burdens of sorrow she might, In her won't
ed unselfishness, ministers to others. But
recently the desire for life gave way, the
fear of death departed and she waited for
waited until He came and took her to
Himself Quietly she fell asleep
ASLEEP in Jesus, blessed sleep,
From which none ever wake to weep"
EDWIN HARDY FOSTER.
1903 Massachusetts Avenue, Washing
ton, d. c.
1t is a pleasure to give space in my
columns to this appeal which must touch
every heart that throbs with pity for sin
full humanity:
At Christmas all of the world seemed
| full of the Christ spirit of giving and
making others happy; Christmas trees
| everywhere for the children; good cheer
for all-yea, We even knew kind ladies
| who had a feast at the mines for the
prisoners, and those in the county jail
were not forgotten. But. alas! there is
| one class of people for whom there is new
| er Christmas; never a Sunday or holy
| day; never a word of hope or JOY; but in
stead, the finger of scorn Is forever point
| ed at them, and for the committal of one
sin they must live on and on in a place of
sin and be lost to all Christian influence.