Evening star., 1897-05-08

gradually the golf stocking and the low
cut shoe seem to be coming into style. A
good proportion Of the fair sex now think
aoinns aod % o. haS apPearins ring IN such costume.
tainiy much more adaptable. much more
comfortable, and as for appearances II is
much more modest and far less objection
able than the average summer resort bath
ing costume.
The long versus the short skirt is having
just as big controversy as the bloomer
question. 1T is evident to me-" Saws a
iemale writer, that the woman who states
that the skirt made down to the ankles is
just as comfortable and more suitable for
riding hardly knows what she is talking
atout, or, to put II mildly, has not had
experience and Is not competent to judge.
POSSIBLY she rides a few miles occasionally
IN the city streets, or the parks, while some
OF us, who like to go out for an outing of
hfty or hundred miles, with our hus-
pands or brothers, in our comfortable and
neat and stylish bloomer suits, run the
risk or being called all sorts of cdious
names by some persons who, for reasons
Fest known to themselves are unable to
adopt this most comfortable and suitable
dress, and can know nothing about the de-
light of being able to spin along without
tne swinging skirt spread to catch every
breeze. Ii bloomers are truly undesirable
and unnecessary. then they will die nat
ural death.
rs 1t the fear that they will make the
woman immodest that is causing so much
agitation? Let US trust that true mo6esty
can never be affected by ones dress The
nctltious article can never have been much
OF value. lady of taste would scarcely
appear at church or theater in her bicycle
dress IL 1t could be avoided. But for the
purpose for which it was designed, the BIZ
cycle bloomer suit can have no equal.
some or those who are loudest in de-
I'unclatlon OF boomers. on the score of i'm
modesty, advocate the short skirt. reach
ing just below the knee, with knickerbock-
ers underneath. l leave it to any person
VINO has closely observed the subject and
Ieeis competent to judge which looks neat
est and most inconSpicuous the well-made
rather full bloomer, terminating lust below
the knee, with well-fitting leggins. or the
snort skirt, raised and Topped about hy The
peoai motion. blown and twisted by the
WIND, displaying the knickerbocler under-
garments in way that must be painful TO
immodest so
or course. one must consider the fit
ness of things. What is becoming and
suitable for one often looks absurd ON
another. But why should not the fortunate
ones who can wear that style Of cycling
oress and be comfortable be allowed to do
SO without being called names? The ln-
pleasant feature OF bloomers is that they
attract attention. and that is always un-
pleasant but so did the first women to ride
the bicycle attract attention. But they did
not abandon the wheel for all that There
are plenty of people, even now. who saw
modest" - ~
me fnil-dedged cyclist will wear regula-
tion bicycle shoes more generally than ever
pelore. Ihls is pretty severe test of her
vanity for if there is anything which de-
tracts from the comeliness of a woman's
understanding" it is this particular style
OF OF loot apparel. Its low vamp and rounded
UP are trials which one hesitates to adopt
while the almost fiat heel is the last straw
toward breaking down the ideal ensemble
of a graceful foot
Many mfddle-aged women often remark
mat II they were only younger, they would
try to learn to ride the bicycle Every now
ana then some one, more venturesome than
her friends, takes a few lessons. learns to
ride, and Immediately does missionary
work In her circle of acquaintances. TO
ride bicycle it is not necessary to pick q
crowded thoroughfare, like Pennsylva MIA
avenue, nor to climb hills as steep as Capi-
tol Hill or 14th street. A great deal of
pleasure may be obtained in wheeling along
the splendid streets and avenues of the
city, and no one is too old to learn to ride
the wheel.