Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-12

|QC lSDN SON. Manufacturing Jewelers. 73 East Main Street


becoming on terms OF too close intimacy
during a ride.
So Madame Grand proceeded to think
out her Rosalind bicycle costume. dis
carding one by one of the nineteenth CEN
J fury articles of dress that fettered the
sex when a-wheeling.
mo waist for me-" said Madame Grand.
at the beginning Of her studies, "a waist
on cycle is absurd. l can never bear
to ride in anything tight, especially cor
| sets. and 1 like to feel free and COM
| Portable"
And away went the corsets, and after
| them the waist, then the skirt and the
boomers, until Rosalind, the lay figure,
was deprived Of everything that pertain
ed to modern costuming, and stood ready
to be habilitated in the Shakespearian
reform dress than Madame Grand had
In mind. The creation that is the out
come of her efforts is declared by all
who have seen it, set off on the famous
novelistS graceful figure, to be a great
success. 1t combines the rare qualities
of prettiness and comfort, and is sure to
find its way to America, where such
combination In qualities in women's cos
tune is fully appreciated and eagerly at
tached.
The costume is made for winter wear,
although it can be fashioned readily
enough into an attractive summer rig
for the athletic girl. 1t is made OF white
fur, and follows the Rosalind ideas very
closely. Over the shoulder is thrown the
natty cloak OF the Rosalind era, which
can be discarded at the option OF the
bicyclist, but certainly adds 10 the smart
ness of the wearers appearance. The
hose and doublet are modified into tight"
fitting knickerbockers of white fur, and
on a slender woman look extremely well.
The accompanying illustration, showing
Madame Grand clad in the costume she
has evolved, gives a good idea of how
the novel bicycle dress will look on wo-
men OF attractive build. OF course, the
way the costume will look depends alto
gether on the figure and general appear
ance of the wearer. II isn't every one
who makes q good-looking Rosalind, ana
some women do well 70 cling to the skirt
or the boomers for the sake OF the dis
ornise they afford A well-formed woman.
however. will have in the new Sarah
Grand costume n dress that Will make her
free from restraining drapery and OF at
tractiye appearance when a-wheet
II remains to be seen how many women
will have the courage to endorse Sarah
Grands idea by adopting II. ~ Is suen
a startlingly long step. even from tpe
hIoolner Costume that most women WIN
probably be little shy about appearing
in public until holder spirits nave taken
the rough edge of the sensation such
costume will cause. Rosalind on inc
stage is one thing. Rosalind on a plcycle
In HYDE Park or Central Park Is an
other, although the distinction Is me
one when simmered down.
Madame Grand does not believe that
she IS entitled to be roughly criticised on
account Of her new costume
..Nothing Is unfeminine for woman"
ehe said when asked about this point,
..unless she chooses to make 1t SO.
think we are beginning 10 show nowadays
that we can do many things wnich USED
20 be thought 'unfeminine' and yet be
womanly nevertheless. Bicycling Is one
II them, and the wearing OF rational
bicycle costume goes with II. The skirt
$ evidently not the thing. have had
wo bad accidents from mine catching.
md II was made by an excellent tailor
This Is what led me 10 devote a good
leal OF thought to the subject. and made
ne come to the conclusion that an easy |
md pretty costume might be modelled
rom Rosalind's dress"
The women OF America can Judge for
themselves and criticise the authoress or
The Heavenly Twins" as they consider
he deserves, She assumes the entire
esponslbility for tho Rosalind bicycle
ostume, and being accustomed to criti-
ism Is disposed to regard philosophicaiiy
he abuse Of those who treat her original
Ieas irreverently.