Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1896-05-12


years ago by Lieutenant r. E.
Whitman, U. s. A. This retired
officer seems to have studied the
requirements of both woman and
beast with admirable results.
Disguised with side-saddles,
Fanny Kemble braYed puritan
gossip and rode over Berkshire
hills man fashion. Anna Dickin-
son followed the Englishwoman's
example when exploring Yosemite
Valley. Later a young woman
from Virginia rode astride in New
Iork's Central Park arrayed in
felt hat, jacket, bifurcated skirt,
knickerbockers and top boots!
The police did not arrest her.
We are getting on better than
pessimists admit. Nothing can
be more modest" than the garb
of this Virginia girl. The bifur-
Gated skirt used in "biking" is well
adapted to the saddle, ride which
way woman will, as it looks like
one skirt and enables the wearer
to free herself from the horse in
case of accident. However, be-
fore women ride astrjde with COM
fort saddle must be made for
the purpose, as women are con-
structsd differently from men.
Meanwhile most of US will mount
in the old way, knowing all the
time that the side. saddle is
pis-aller. 1t stands to reason
that a method of riding which
throws the weight on one side
and thus hurts the horse, and which
exercises but one of the riders
legs, is not the acme of equestrian
bliss. Then there is the >possi-
bility of growing one-sided, &
possibility overcome by q few
women who have two saddles, one
for left-hand and the other for
right-hand riding, so that in two
days both legs and both sides of
the body can get the same amount
of exercise. Better than two sad
dies is one saddle with movable
pommels.
AS even the devil should have
his due, it is but fair to admit
that, when we'll cinched or strap
ped in the side. saddle of today,
women are less likely to be thrown
than men. Should the horse fall,
however, the second pommel al
lows less possibility of escape
from dangerous environment.
MISS FIELD TRIES IT.
Later.-What a chasm there is
between theory and practice I've
been and gone and done it Since
writing this screed L have adopted
the Hawaiian ways and tested the
virtues of riding astride. Here
native women and white scamper
about on masculine saddles at all
hours of the day, generally with
out escort, so independent and
fearless as to put our city riders
to the blush. "Here is your
chance" said my mentor. "When
you are in Rome do as the Rom
ans" l listened, but hesitated,
for l confess that though common
sense is almost entirely on the
side of riding astride, appearance
favors the side, saddle. Probably,
when New York, London and
Paris bellies sit on both sides of a
horse costume will be evolved to
cast the tailor made habit in the
shade. In Honolulu women look
more or less like animated bun
dies. There is style in a we'll ap-
lpointed cowboys outfit but the
lgirl astride has yet to attain an
ideal garb. There is plenty of
comfort in a bifurcated skirt, a
shirt waist and tight fitting cap
that won't blow off in a high trade
wind, but l have fallen in love
with no equestrienne here. After
gazing upon an alleged photo
graph taken cf me on an alleged
horse among the lantana of
"Punchbowl," my vanity received
a shock from which it can never
recover. Nevertheless l mount
that horse daily and sacrifice ap-
pearance to a desire for know
ledge.
Ten years ago it was not con-
sidered reputable for white women
to ride astride. 1t might do fol
the natives, but woe be unto the
pale faced sister who followed theil
example Times have changed
The daughters Of missionaries dc
their own thinking, and now black
L F.. 4 n 4