The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-01-25
In RAINY Day Attir0.
American Women Not Always at Their Best Bah Discusses
All Sorts of Things in Her Own Peculiar Style.


We hear with no end Of interest about
tLt. various clubs that are organized 10
.,couraee the wearing Of short skirts,
heavy boots, plain hats and the carrying
Of stout umbrellas on rainy days, but
somehow if yOu are ont on rainy day
il dayns on you that rainy day
thu. American woman is not Il success.
She lacks the courage Of the English
@irl who tiorS not care how she looks
provided she is comfortable, and who,
feeling perfectly secure III Il good storm
coat strides through mud and water III
hro:td-Solcd shoes and galoches: sure OF
coming ont in fiat condition. She makes
one big step over Il crossing, ana does
not mind the soft rain drops falling on
her face. she knows this kind OF waiter
is good for the complexion. Now, the
average American woman does not look
we'll on a rainy day. She may go in for
comfort, put on short skirt, long ulster
and felt hat and carry an umbrella, but
she is uncertain in her grasp of it. She
either takes it by the extreme end, 50
that it WabbleS to and fro, as the wind
Hatcth, or else she graSpS it 50 far up
that it looks like Il prrambulatlng muSh-
room. while She cannot see anybody,
and the people who meet her run the
chance of having their eyes knocked out
or their dige@ions punched i'll. After a
block or two of walking the rainy day
girl concludes to get on car. and her
umbrella is wildly waved to stop it.
Then she makes the usual feminine ef-
fort to get on the platform with the UNI
breIa still open. As the car was not
built with this in view. the conductor
yelIs at her, "Shut that"' My lady
stands perfectly still, says something
Ia TO 1l,a nj
ert while the nearest man closes her
umbrella for her, and after that she en-
ters the car. Ten to one she sits down
next to somebody who has had the
rheuma tiSm, and that vile umbrella drips
on him or her until he or She nearly
has Il nervous chill.
TROUBLE ON THE CAR.
Twenty to- one, her money, instead of
being i'll her ulster pocket, is in her dress
skirt. $50 that when the conductor comes
for it sha unbuttons the coat, squirms
around to find the pocket. and has the
whole car interested in her efforts. Then
Wllen the money is discovered, she gives
il to th~. unfortunate conductor in a way
that suggests he ought to be giving
thanks that She is in his car instead Of
making her pay for the privilege. After
that She takes out her handkerchief.
dahs n"r face. and looks around the car
with her BEST smile and says with Il long
ing sigh. oh. am 50 tired-' This eX-
preston Of weakness cOnQuers every man
in the car and absolutely permeateS the
beng of each one. and my private opin-
ION IS that If every woman did this the
second time there would be a riot among
the men "a to who should have the privi-
lege of letting her umbrella drip on him.
.I,
1t is evident that she is used to being
helped across the street by a man. She
graSrS her skirt in one hand. looks
around stands on her tip toes, gets in
the middle of the street. sees a wagon
coming half a square away and chases
back. Ihpn she waits long time, makes
another rush across just when the cleo
tric ears are racing down the street after
block. and ruSheS across at the risk of
her life. without any regard for appear
anccs, or e1>e is meekly led across by
some man who knows the ways of wo-
man and feels sorry for her. \ French
woman would never make herself so RI
d!culouS. She lifts her skirts in Il dainty
sort of Il way with both hands, gives a
full view of Il perfectly-fitting boot. and
the suggestion Of black silk stocking
but that Is only Il suggestion. and then
with the quickness of Il bird she gels
over the bad places and is safe on the
other side. Her skirts are quickly drop
ped, madame is as demure ;s possible.
while She has The absolute admiration Of
all the nlcn standing around her.
ELECTRICITY AND DRESSMAK-
EtS.
The electric car is an. incentive to
&racefu!ncSS. Without asking your lea;
YOU are deposited Immediately after you
enter INTO the lap of Il man who does
.}t appreciate his blessings. and later
YOU spill your change on the floor be-
cause of the car Wabhling in YOUR effort
to be buSine>Slike and count Your m ,nny
y ou are literally thrown off. If is true
YOU may not land flat in the mltld3, of
the street. but dclberation in getting of
is an impOsSibiity. There is no stand
lng on the order of your going but Won
90 at once, and with such Quicknr>4
that n.ne times out of ten you are ont
off at Il street for which You have II,
anilation. | wonder why it always rains
when you have an appointment ut NoLl
dressmakers? And with that type of
drc&smaker who. if YOU lose you.' Iittinr
makes you suffer by keeping the dress
longer! The dresSmaker is very positive
this winter, and no matter how ah0mina
bic TOur neck may be. she insists on
making an evening dress with very low
bodice. | sometimes wonder il men have
the same trouble with their Taiiors. and
II they are rs impuient 10 theni rs dress