Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-05
THE WALKING SKIRT.
THE IDLER COMMENTS ON A NEW
FASHION AMONG WOMEN.
VERSES OF OMAR yHAYYAH.
They Arc Very Pretty, Int Not CAL
cuIated to Suit Temperance People.
The Evils of Cold wenther-vacci-
nation and Sore Arms.


nation and Sore Arms.
1t is with profound interest that note
the adoption of short walkng-skirts by
the ladies. For years their long. trail
ing robes have constituted a sort OF aux
Hilary STRENGTHENING department, which
cleared out thoroughfares OF cigar
stumps, tomato-cans, and hand-bills, and
made most excellent paths through the
slush and snow. Ever since the men
commenced rolling up their trousers the
gum-chewing faction have realized that
some counter move was expected from
them, but It was not until recently that
definite plans were formulated. OK
course. the bathng-suit, with its start
ling economy of material and liberal dis
play Of hitherto yelled mysteries, was
the first step towards abbreviated petit
| coats. but it didn't exactly suit for IN
( land cities and mountain resorts. More
| over e. was a severe test for obese indi-
vidnals. and for persons VINO had failed
TO attain the slightest degree of corpu-
| lence.
The bicycle-skirt-a most sensible inno-
yation-was all right in its way, but 10
procure 4 license 10 wear II one had 10
| Get n bicycle. The thing was as trouble
some as the humorist's Newfoundland
| dog which was no good until It's owner
! had purchased a millpOnd in which MS
child could fall and from which the New
| foundland dog could rescue the young
| ster
Rut none OF these complaints can be
entered against the short wakingskirt,
which combines modesty and utility, ana
is. altogether. so sensible that one must
conclude IL was invented by man. Inc
J short dress ought to reach TO your shoe-
tops-that IS, If you are a woman-ahl
though the law doesn't specify To what
point your shoe-tops should reach. you
| are supposed to arrange that In a way
, which will satisfy all interested parties.
OF course women who have feet like
sides Of bacon had best not wear the
short skirt. nor does il match well with
buttonless or patched shoes, but other
wise il is a most sensible AFFAIR. OF
! snowy. rainy weather there is nothing
better for ladies', unless, indeed, they
stay at home and darn their husband
clothing. which generally needs repair
ing.
As am usually regarded as an oracle
cessor of the late Ruth Ashmore | know
these recommendations Of mine will carry
weight. For the benefit of those whose
4 | money does not grow on trees. and wh'
4 have hitherto been in the habit Of sellins
B their old clothes TO the cook. will STATE
9 that short skirts may be obtained pl
I saving of longer ones If you nave
dress which has gotten ragged aroun'
b the edges like napkin. saw 1t off, give
) the ragged part 10 the needy poor, AM
J make a short skirt for yourself. Thei
YOU can go out in bad weather ana PAD
de around like a duck. If your feet ar
built ON the lavish scale indicated above
however. | would advise YOU to take tn
ground that short skirts are unbecomins
3 Cold weather was undoubtedly ar
4 ranged without the slightest regard 10
the convenience Of ''po'-whlte folks
and although it has been endorsed be
cause it freezes out germs and mierobe
and animalculae, no one ever stops I
consider tho people 1t freezes out. VINE
, I read the papers. and see now the resi-
dents of cuba run around In pajamas an
, straw hats. and. occasionally-very oC
/ casionally-wash in the ocean, long I
5 he Fitz Lee or a reconcentrado, or
r soldier. or anything that gets the benet
Of 100 degrees Fahrenheit In the shade
. 1t seems 10 me that all the Ills that 1es
u is heir TO crop up these cold days. Wha
J. with goose bumps, chaps, chllblalni
rheumatism. pneumonia, grip tonsillti
= cold footses. shivers, and chatterin
d, teeth. my life is one long nightmare
suffering.
e In the mornings we lie abed for half a
hour and wonder which part OF the fioC
will be the warmest-Or least cold-i'
70 rs 10 climb out on, and before retirln
y AZ night we frequently long TO sleep vii
70 all our clothes on.
b And the fires in the CRATES only war
- us I'm sections. While our northwe'
% flank is Sizing and cracking before Il
Do blaze. our southeast side is as cold
80 kembalmed beef We can't stroke OF
g chins. because our hands give US II
Of shivers when we put them on our race
~ There are icicles on our whiskers. an
IF we snort frost and crystallized spray.
m Away back i'm the nursery, where II
L. tindergarton snOOZes in the coma
.e wearicd childhood. we hear many az
II divers noises-deep, gutteral, and IA
"a tling-which tell of Group and pneumoni
d Every zephyr Is weighted down with Il
10 mutton-suet with which we have grease
N the youngsters, while our own faces
he as sweet as honey with the sycerine
e. have used as an antidote for the raw M
H. / produced by chapplng.
r This is the weather on which Whitti
50 made his rcputatiOn-thG weather Wink
~ breeds poets ike molasses breeds file
d And this. too, is the season when Goa
M dealers smile, and undertakers loo
cheerful and hopeful. But. for all tina
m l would rather be- a Cuban reconcentra'
10 than dig in the Klondike gold-beds 70
he ever.
at OF course. I've read the Rubaiyat
N Omar Khayyam. No book with mar
io Ike that shall scare me or especial
es when it's being discussed by all the DC
in cas- societies and woman's clubs and
"A male seminaries in the country. NO
as know farmers and busy country peol
ON don't like 10 read about literature mu'
ut unless the subject matter is crops
10 free silver. or how to cure calves
ia warts. but believe IL will do them go
80 to hear my views on this much-discuss
~ work And then. too, some day, VIII
~ the roads are bad and traffic is suspel
ed. they can get in two or three go
. hours of amusement trying to pronour
the old ROSTERS name.
So Omar as he is fondly called by tho
~ u.bo try 70 get familiar with him,