The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-12

LONDON. Dec. u.-By tudicious COM
binatioa OF ideas based on Shakespeare
and common sense. Mime. Sarah Grand,
the world-famous author of THE Heav-
emily Twins has evolved bicycle cos
tune for women that Is a STARTER. Ana.
as Nine. Grand's admirers point out. the
subject OF the correct bicycle costume Tor
women has been for so long faSortfe
one with cranks and reformers or all
classes that IL Is not an everyday oe-
currenee for anything startling to be sue
cessfuliy launched on the troubled sea or
wonan's apparel. To the novelty or the
costume Nine. Sarah Grand has added
the novelty of name. She calls her
new bicycle dress for women her Christ
mas bicycle costume and considers that
cause for rejoicing among women during
the coming holiday season.
To begin to explain Nine. Grand's cos
tune II Is necessary to take the Rosaltnd
Of act II in LAS You Like IT, and. using
her as a lay figure for the explanation. 20
build the Mime. Grand costume around
her. Nine. Grand is an enthusiastic adj
mirer Of Shakespeare. and the more she
studied the free and easy grace OF Rosa
lind Of the russell doubiet and hose. the
more she became convinced that had b.
cycles been in use during the Shakes
pearean era. the sioubiet and hose would
have been the costume that level-headed
women would have adopted. II was
- ven an Improvement on the male bicy-
cling costume. argued Mne. Grand. for
even the emancipated man who discard
ed his voluminous trousers for wide knee
breeches and stockings when he mount
ed the fascinating wheel. occasionally
complained that the revolving spokes
caught in the "knicker" cloth and made
trouble. But the hose Of Rosalind would
prevent even the possibility of a spill
from the wardrobe and the wheel be-
coming on terms OF too close intimacy
during a ride.
So Nine. Grand proceeded TO think out
her Rosalind bicycle costume. discarding
ono by one the nineteenth century ar.i-
cles of dress that fettered the sex when
a-wheeling.
''No waist for me-" said Mime. Grand.
at the beginning of her studies: "a waist
on cycle is absurd. I can never bear
to ride in anything tight. especially cor
sets. and like to feel free and comfort
able"
them the waist. then the skirt and the
bloomers, until Rosalind, the lay figure,
was deprived OF everything that per-
tanned to modern costuming and stood
ready to be habilitated In the Shakes
pearean reform dress that Nine Grand
had In mind. The creation that is the
outcome OF her efforts is declared by all
novelisfs graceful figure. to be a great
success. 1t combines the rare qualities
of prettiness and comfort and is sure to
ma Its way TO America, where such a
combination In qualities IN women's cos
tune Is fully appreciated and eagerly at
tached.
Tho costume Is made for winter wear.
although II can be fashioned readily
enough into an attractive summer rig for
the athletic girl 1t is made of white fur
ana follows the Rosalind idea very close
~. Over the shoulders Is thrown the
natty cloak of the Rosalind era. which
can be discarded at the option of the hi
cyclist, but certainly adds to the smart
ness OF the wearer's appearance. The
hose and doubIet are modified into tight,
hitting knickerbockers OF white fur and
on slender woman look extremely we'll
The accompanying illustration showing
Nine. Grand clad In the costume she has
evolved. gives a good idea of how the
novel bicycle dress Will look on women
or attractive build. or course the W.
the costume will look depends aItoretb.r
on the figure and general appearance ~
the wearer. 1t isn't every one who
makes a good-looking Rosalind. ana some
women do well TO cling to the skirt or ,ha
boomers for the sake Of the disguise
they AFFORD. A well-formed woman. how
ever, VIII have in the new Sarah Grand
costume dress that will make her free
from restraining drapery, and of attract
i've appearance when awheeI
IL remains to be seen how many worn
en- VIII nave the courage 10 indorse Sa-