The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-09
Bicycle skirts.

New York Evening Sun.
Two years ago. when w~omen-thanks to
the bicycle-irst began seriously and prac-
ticaily to consider the wearing of the short
skirt, every one declared that it was q
movement in the direction of the radical
a sartorial manifestation Of the ferment
tfat has long been troubling the souls of
1emlneity. With the advent of boomers
and knickerbockers for wheel wear these
declarations became more emphatic. On all
sides was ii assumed that the new wom-
an had indeed arrived. So long as her
identity was but dimly and theoretically
oenned there were doubts about her, but
when it came to clothes everybody lust had
to believe in her whether she would or not
1t is one thing to do things and say things.
and even to be things, but when it comes 70
wearing things ah, that's quite another
matter, especially when womenkind are
concerned. What, therefore. are we 10 he
HeVe nowadays, when, two years after the
Irst eruption of boomers. Knockers and
snort skirts. during which time these arti-
Giles nave ragged most virulently upon every
highway. and cycle path, there is a decided
[eactlon! And reaction there is, there can
pc no doubt about it. 1t may be that the
disease has spent itself. or it may be that
women nave become less liable to catch it.
put IL is certain that both Knockers and
pIoonerS are nothing like so prevalent as
they were. Perhaps some sort of vacci-
natlng process is taking effect. AS for short
skirts, they are few and far between. All
the smart bicycle skirts this season are
very long-so long, indeed, that when walk
ing you would hardly he aware that the
WeareF was IN hlklng costume. while upon
the wheel the garment falls clear to the
Feet. II is true that there are times when
one mlght wish 1t otherwise. The long
cyclIng skirt gets dreadfully dusty and II
catches in the wheel much more readily
tnan the short one. 1t is, besides, Just that
much more to carry, as to keep it from Az
liz QD II Is ol&nt9u and nn11ad anI
stitched 10 a degree that wasn't necessary
Ior the snort one. But these are merely ex-
traneous details. The fact remains that
the present bicycle rig for women is a most
conservative affair, such as Madame Primes
u fTlsIns herssif could not take exception
20. granting, therefore, that bloomers and
the rest or 1t We're tbs outward and visible
sign OF woman's inward unrest, is the LONG
SKIRT a sign of reaction? Does il signify >
relapse in spirit. as well as i'm costume to-
wards the conventional? 1t looks very
much that way. Scan the Sunday crowd it,
selt-whlch is a law unto itself. being com
posed of riders to be seen almost AT no
otRsr tlme-and you can't help bur note
Ine absence OF boomers knickers and short
sklrts, While the very great prevalence of
the long skirt is such as TO command snr-
prise. There doesn't seem 10 have heen
any concerted plan about the thing. No
convention in favor of the long skiTt W. W.
held, no bylaws against boomers vera
passed. II is the day Of the long bicycle
skirt. Whether II has come to STAY or nor
remains 70 be seen. but. denend Inon ~
while 1t is here 1t. like its Immediate nrede,
1851 iSliects the temper of the feminine
mind for the time being.
Apropos Of this it is interesting to note
that upon the new wheels for women the
long skirt looks much better than tbe ebor,
one. 1T presents a much more graceful
appearance. Upon the wheel of last season
on the contrary, ii was impossible TO wear
a long. skirt with any degree of comfort
much less grace. But upon the bicvcIes
most recently manufactured-the frames of
when are so designed that the rider sits
directly over the pedals-it is possible to
aeeolnnodate quite a length of skirt. An
otaer feature OF the new wheel is their
Ieight or saddle. This also tends tn The
wearing of the long skirt. as