Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-11-26
RATIONAL DRESS.
WOMEN'S APPAREL STILL A MAT.
TER OF GRAVE COMMENT.

The Bicycle Dress Now the Excit.
ant Cause.-The Inconsistency In
Passing Judgment, Admitting
the Decollete Gown and Con.
demning Knickerbockers- Some
Antique Absurdities In Drcss-
Comfort and Health Should he
the Only Censor.
By Lady Cook. nee Tennessee c. Clafflin.
The souls of the "unco" guild" are
much exercised just now because of
some recent developments in women's
dress. Female vanity and fondness
for change of attire have at all times
sorely tried their pious spirits. 1t
would almost seem that Pro, idence
has specially provided these crosses
for their behoof, else where would be
the occupation of that numerous class
who've naught to do but mark and
tell their neebor's faults and folly"
And so from remote times, changes of
fashions, especially female fashions,
have been the cause of many prayers
and wrestlings, denounced from pull
pits, and the butts of secular SCOTS
and ridicule. Some years ago a hand
some, accomplished and well-dressed
young lady-an intimate friend of
ours-casually passing the open door
of rural Bethel about mile or two
from Penzance, ventured to enter. Her
fashionable appearance in such spot
caused general sensation. The 40
cal Preacher" halted in the midst of
his rustic eloquence, and gazed for a
few moments at the lovely vision.
Then thrusting Satan behind him
with one hand, his heart boiling with
holy wrath, he extended the other, and
pointing to the delicate veil which
flowed over her luxuriant tresses,
shouted in stentorian tones and with
an air of apostolic fervor, Take off
that hell-ragw II mere veil could
have produced such a rude outburst of
dissenting zeal, what would he have
said had she entered in cycling knick-
erbockers? Our young friend left the
chapel Of this latter-day Boanerges
more rapidly than she entered it, and
with the visible sympathy of the sur
prised congregation-for the Cornish
are remarkable for their gentle and
unobtrusive politeness. Nevertheless,
his character as severe and fearless
denouncer of pomps and vanities was
thoroughly established.
This reformer must have numerous
relations in Chicago, for we UNDER
stand that women are arrested there
by the police if they appear in public
in knickerbockers. And we have
many who would welcome similar
course here. Some newspaper cores
pondents suggest it by saying that if
they were to go about in their wives
clothes they would be locked up.
This is no doubt true. But then the
ladies do not wear their husbands
clothes, but their own, made specially
for themselves. There is no pretense
whatever to pose as males, and no one
is deceived rs to their sex. Therefore
the whole question resolves itself into
one of taste and convenience If a
woman feels that she can cycle with
less danger and more ease without a
skirt than with one, what moral right
has any one to interfere so long as she
preserves her sex distinction? How
would men like to be compelled to run
and ride in petticoatsP Or why should
women be denied the free play of their
limbs, or even the admiration due to a
well-turned pair? As Robert Burns
wrote on "The Rights of Women:
For right the third, our last our BEST our dear
That right to Au,tering female hearts the nearest
Which even the rights Of kings In low prostra-
Must humbly own-'tis dear. dear admiration"'
1t is urged that it is an indecency
for women to sit astride. We ask,
why? Until "Good Queen Anne"
introduced the side-saddle, the women
of England always rode horseback
astride, like the men, as the women OF
many countries do to the present day.
Physiologically considered, perhaps it
would be filter, if distinction must
be made, for men to use side-saddles
and women the others. 1t is nonsense
to connect immortality with either
mode, as it is simply matter OF GUS
tom, and when the novelty of seeing
woman astride has worn off, time will
sanction both it and knickerbockers,
as it has sanctioned so many other
things.
It is somewhat amusing, however, to
hear women who appear at public
functions in the most decollete man.
ner-semi-nude, arms and shoulders,
backs and breasts bare to all beholders
-disparaging the modest woman who
only displays, to the extent OF few
inches, the shape of pair of well-cov-
cred legs. Ladies of position have
long been accustomed to accompany
their male friends to cover and moor
shooting, habited in knickers and leg
gings, and little notice has been taken,
but the adoption of similar garments
by the cycling community is quite an
other thing, and requires police inter
] ference.