The record-union., 1897-01-21
WEARING MANNISH ATTIRE.
The Alabama Legislature and WomenS
Dress.
ZION. Pettibone B. Undertakes Bill
TO Regulate Female Attire in
Public Places.

war has been declared on the shirt
waist, and it is a man who signs the
declaration. He rejoices in the sonorous
name of Pettibone B. Tinlberlake, and
ms blushing honors are thick upon him,
because he is a member of the Ala
bama Legislature.
Mr.. Timberlake is not alone an anti
shlrtwaist man. but he shudders at
tights, bloomers, cravats, collars, the
cutaway coat in likeness to that worn
by man, or anything that is his, pro-
vided a woman wears it. In other
words, Mr.. Timberlake has taken up the
cudgel against every article which is
worn by woman that in any way re-
sem'bles articles of which man is the
proud possessor.
The Alabama Legislature is intensely
interested in the movement inaugu-
rated by Mr.. Tfnllberlake. The wives,
sisters and sweethearts of the members
are also excited over the matter, for
Mr.. Tfmberlake has introduced bill to
that Legislature of which he is a men,
Der prohibiting the wearing of all the
things mentioned. Not only does this
bill forbid the use of wearing apparel in
the manner referred to, but it provides
as penalty for violation of the law
that the offender shall spend six months
in Jail, or be fined an amount not ex-
ceeding $50.
The Alabama Legislature has already
made war on the theater hat, and,
therefore, the anti-bloomer-sh -shirtwaist-
tights-cravat measure has created no
end of a sensation. Governor Oates of
Alabama is said to have voiced the
sentiments Of a very large number of
the Legislature when he stated: THE
high hat may have to go, but the shirt
waist-not if my wife knows it."
Representative Timberlake however,
has all the courage of his conviction,
and he voices this fact in the following
statement, the like of which, it is safe
to say, has never before appeared over
the signature of a legislator, even in
State like Alabama, where all the men
are noted for their gallantry. This is
what Mr.. Timberlake has written:
To the Editor: l am not a woman
hater, but great admirer of woman. I
believe in woman. 1 believe that women
are the sweetest, purest and most un-
selfish part of the human race. Woman
sings the melody in all human life The
organization of the home depends upon
her. She is the manager of every fam
lily and household. After the Creator
had gotten the experience of creation,
when all things else had been created,
He put forth all the residue of His Gre
auve power in making woman.
L believe woman cannot move very
lar out of the sphere that nature and
natures God intended her for and re-
main as good and pure as she now is
would deny that my belief is founded
on any sentimentality, jealousy or any
other weak or unworthy basis. Having
experienced mothers devotion, a sis
Ters affection and wife's self-sacrifc-
ing love, l may be weakly sentimental
about some things, but not about
women. 1 am a married man with three
little boys.
Il would gladly help any woman in the
free exercise of her every right. rights
which belong to her. but would not have
her sound bass note, play a bass fid-
die, or wear breeches. am ready at all
times to exclaim: All honor to our
women. They twine and wreathe the
roses of heaven into the lives of men.
She is purer in thought than man. Her
mind, like an unruffied sea, reflects all
that is above it. and should, like the sea,
reflect nothing beneath it. She is ever
in advance of man in the journey hea-
Venward'
THE bill l introduced on dress re-
form is intended for the maintenance of
the purity and dignity of the women,
and only places men on the same statue
tory plane as women. We have many
laws for the protection-or rather that is
the intent of such laws-of the chastity
of women, and nowhere is she asked to
protect herself I would be the last one
to cdrcumscribe woman with law, were
st not for the maintenance of her purity.
The first section Of my bill reads thus:
That il shall be unlawful for any
woman to appear in any public place in
this State attired in the habit or any
part of the habit Of man.
In support of this section Of my bill
have only this TO say: We find among
the first laws of God to mana woman
prescribed in her dress, and expressly
forbidden to adorn herself in mans
apparel. and the Divine law is the base
of all just civil law. All physical law
is supposed to be based upon it. Again,
in all ages Of the world. we find in bar
barisn man and woman dressed alike
no distinction, at least in the way they
present themselves to the public.
I'm semi We find but little
distinction in their dress. In every ma
ton as civilization advances, distinc-
.ion in the form Of dress borders on bar
barism. AS TO the improperly of our
girls dressing so as to look like a boy, /
would call attention to a little incident
in my life. Some time ago / was on a
visit to the beautiful country home of a
prominent citizen Of nay county Ny
Ierv of his residence. enjoying the
haIrnv breeze of a summers afternoon
an that mountainous region.
MY host, who was an elderly man.
,,5 a++arrfon to a buggy approach