Middletown transcript., 1898-04-16

specially provided these crosses fol
their behoof, else where would be th,
occupation Of that numerous class
"Hho've naught to do ut mark ard tel
their neebor's faults and folly And
so from remote time, changes of fash
ions, especially female fashions, havl
been the cause of many prayers and
wrestlings, denounced from pulpits, ant
the bu ts of secular SCOTS and ridicule
Srme years ago handsome, accom-.
plished, and well-dressed young lady
an ultimate friend of ours casually
passing the open door of rural Bethe
about mile or two from Penzance
ventured to enter. Her fashionable ap
pearaDce in such spot caused a general
sensation. The "T.ocal Preacher" halt.
ed in the midst of his rustic eloquence,
and gazed for few moments at the
lovely vision. Then thrusting Satan
behind him with one hand, bis heart
boiling with holy wrath, he extended
the other, and pointing tn the delicate
veil which flowed over her luxuriant
t esses, shouted in stentorian tones and
vi b an airof apostolic fervour, "Take
off hat hell-ragl" If a mere veil could
have produced such q rude outburst OF
dissenting zeal, what would he have
said had she entered in cycling kincker-
beckers2 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 un-
obtrusive politeness. Nevertheless, his
character as severe and fearless de-
nouncer of pomps and vanities was
thoroughly es ablished.
This reformer must have nu mer GUS
relations in Chicago, for we understand
that women are arrested there by the
police if they appear in public in knick-
erbockels. And we have many who
would welcome similar course here.
Some newspaper correspondents sug-
gest it by saying that if they were to
60 about in their wives clothes they
would be l. cxed 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 pre- ence whatever to pose as
males, and no one is deceived as to
their sex. Therefore the whole ques-
ton resolves itself into one of taste and
convenience. If woman feels that
she eau 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 distinction2 How would men
like to be compelled to run and ride in
petticoa,sp Or why should women be
denied the free play of their limbs, or
even the admiration due to a we'll
turned pairp AS Robert Burns wrote
on THE Rights of Women":-
"For Right the third, our last, our best, our
deare t.
That right to fiuttering female hearts the
nearest,
Which even the Rights of Kings in low pros
Most humbly own-'tis dear, dear admira- |
tionp'
1t is urged that it is an indecency for |
W, men to sit astride. We ask, Why? |
Until "Good Queen Annen introduced |
The side-saddle, the women of Eng
and always rode horseback astride like
The men, as the women of many coun- !
-ries do to the present day. Physiclogi-
,ally considered, perhaps it would be
litter, il distinction must be made,
,or men to use side-saddles and women |
,he others. 1t is nonsense to connect
with either mode, as it is
imply matter Of custom, and when
he novelty Ct seeking a woman as
ride has worn of, time will sanction
10th it and knickerbockers as it has
anctioned 80 many other things.
1t is somewhat amusing. however, to
lear women who appear at public
unctions in the most ''decolle.e" man.
ler-s semi-nude, arms and shoulders,
'acks and breasts bare to all beholders
: disparaging the most modest woman
gho only displays, to the extent of a
ew inches, the shape of pair of we'll
overed legs. Ladies of position have
ong been accustomtd d to accompany
heir male friends to cover and moor
hooting, habited in knickers and leg
ings, and little notice has been taken,
ut the adoption of similar garments
y the cycling community is quite
mother thing, and requires police in
difference. II
Mankind have been trying all kinds
{ clothing, possibly to discover rat /
Dnal dress, and have not found The .
nitable one yet. We may still say. as
haucer in the Parsons Tale"
Alasl May not man see as In our
aies, the sinneful costlewe array Of
othing, and namely into moch super
uitee, or elles into disordinale scant-
essem Among the superfluities was
le slength of the foresaid gounes,
ailing in dong and in the myre on hors
I'd exc on foot,a well OF man as Of wo-
an. that all thilke trailing is veraily
asied, consumed. .threadbare, and rot
n with d,pg, rather than it is geyen TO
10 poure, TO speke Of the horrible dis