The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-01
THE BIRTHDAY OF BLooMERs.
1t Was July IN. but II Nns Not Very Gener.
ally Celebrated This Wear.

From the Philadelphia Times.
To-day is ono which all the fair cyclists OF the
civilized globe should join with one acclaim to
tttingly celebrate; for on this day ~forty-six
years ago the hloomer, in al its glory, first bios
somed forth upon a cold and nonreceptive
world. The author of this then startling inno-
walton. Mrs. Amelia Bloomer. was n lady of I'M
doubted social position and intelligence. and
her name has achieved an undying fame from
its association with the bifurcated costume. At
the time of the opening Of her crusade she was
engaged in editing a temperance journal. the
Lily. and the columns OF this organ were cease
l,ss!y employed in promulgating her decidedly
radical ideas OF dress reform.
AT this day, when the bloomer may be fairly
acknow lodged to have attained a recognized po-
sition in the feminine wardrobe, it is usually
RELOCATED to athletic pursuits; but in the mind
of its originator a far less restricted and more
general adoption was contemplated. 1t was, in
fact, to take the place, on every occasion, of the
more cumbersome and unmanage bic skirt,
which at that time. indeed. was increasing in
size to such an extent that, in the, language OF
geo. raphical area The ladies meant to occupy
Her own iirst nppsaranGGe in the new costume
leaders OF society in the town In which she
lived, and, as may be easily imagined, she WAS
ing. 1t is interesting to note Mrs. Boomers
icoa of the costume AS she intenCed it to be. AS
woul have a skirt reaching down to
nearly half way bet ween The knee and the mike.
4 shion. Underneath this skirt trousers moder-
atcly full. in fair. mild weather coming down TO
an clnsi ic baud. For winter or wet weather. the
trousers also full, but coming down into a boot,
above the ankle. This loot should be gracefully
sloped at the upper edge AMI trimmed with fur
taatn NJ the yearpr Tho material might be
cloth. morocco, mooseskin. and so forth. and
made waterproof If desirable"
dis used at the lime by The press OF the coun-
try. the consensus OF opinion being that 1t was
charge OF in eli -acy. But few women could be
found. how ever. of sufficient moral courage to
/ cal.y dead issue. 1t remained for the intro iuc.
ton of the bicycle to induce the latter.day maid
among her articles Of apparel. Mrs. Bloomcr
herself clung TO the costume tenociousiy until
The H,y Of her death; o hn, as, as she III lily 1tye rc. ysry
Was no. large.
Hur ii .ociHty n: lar . declined to lay aside its
NE"- we've ny no mems '"a,h 10 grasp az ihe
orac AMI couvcHi"ncc offered by Ne new mode
q. trcsS. il may rot he generally known 10 the
pr ; nj ecncr zion. In, i mover he.est II actual
fAc,. ',nt within thlrty.tive mites of the city of
portion o, the iemgie population Of which at ono
time wore re ~ 'rly the |rattom9l" gro; nm.
=. j.. the Inducements offered by HIM TO Intent
mmdhrxS Of very miSci slemSn;s; The raiiro@d.
advantages NJ the new town and the extraordi-
pnry Grolncliyencss Of ne ;.ground,ng country
oi peculiar aid ~farlustlc seuts and ,rcc1s, Often
in tho fncn of open. encouragement from tho
F req Thin i" sn' Frien r".F: "iSersls and even
sKcptics and atheists. who professed no faith at
ideas. ana of such we're lis first Go'onists largely
ronposel.. Among them were, the boomers,
in faith sliritpnlistic and all firm adhercnts OF
the trouscr cult.
And, ind,eI; no better garb could ]probablS
VISIONS Of the wearcrs. AT ,we,e @grlcultn.
risls md men and women alike labored In The
folds, so that at a little distance 1t vas a na'tsI
of some difti ul'y TO lis'ing uisli tho stN OF the
toi!or. The dress OF the. women consisted OF q
sort Of blouse, coming in some Instances Just
meath this tho inevitable trousers. re'ching hi
way 10 the ankle, where they were met by u sor,
til the W sHon. T iE,sF cosiu n1cS w"s g enc %YYH'' Of SOM
liEht cloth. usually Of a faded reddish color, M
hat, such AS the Dunkards a.c accuftomed 4
wear. Sometimes in summer linen would o.
sub3ti!mled iSr the more weight rlotA' but tn
Shortly ,ftcr their arrival IN the town al th'
kki mn g IT, " tGe Fricnd d. Of ITn,ssT ..'p the I iSea bse,
ing that, as n legal corporation, they, nigh
erect and maintain a coInmon hall TO be pset
and scmi.religious topics. At one tinc ther!
fn between twenty ahiy y Ana tnit'S INT a n,0 Semar
= ihIiilitS III anu hInHI ' iholuhu, ~ 40, behS
alton succeeded generation the. number de
: creased. until at the present time but two. repre-
r sentatives OF the sect remain, one living oil
the outskirts OF Vincland and the othe
0 a, North Vineland. The former, Mrs. Fowler
5 is person of considerable intelligence an ! n
= interesting convcrsIlionalist. 4 strong believe
Y in female suffrage, she never fails when elrctio
d time draws near 10 contribute t9 ne co.mTns q
the local press n strong and scathing article o
j. the injustice of tax ny The female p9rtton OF III
population without perulittirg, Their cntr1l
CHS mcnt. A third adhcrcnt OF the costume wa
n resident OF the town until wilh'n the past ST
months, when she left for Ctlifo,ilia;, The IVY
surviving members are both well advanced, !
years. and with their deceaso Il 10 probable tina
the once famous "bloomer' colony % VtAelaA
u will cease 10 exist