The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-27

Cleveland has begun a crusade to abol-
sh the side saddle. The Herald has asked
physicians, riding masters and social
leaders of various cities their opinions
Objections are urged that women can
not we'll ride astride because their legs
from hip to knee are shorter than mems;
that the posture is immodest; that most
horsewomen, riding side saddle, are
healthy.
On the other hand, there are physi-
eians who declare that woman is as well
fitted for riding astride as man; riding
masters say that it is safer, and the as
sertiOn is made that with divided skirts
equestriennes on mems saddles attract no
undesirable attention, says the New York
Herald.
Let me make you a prophecy. Within
The next ten years it will not be an in
frequent sight to see women riding
astride in New York city. The movement
has started in the West and will come
from there to the East"
This was the statement with which Dr.
F. Gaillard Thomas closed an interview
IN which he had dismissed the hygienic
objections TO women riding astride as
Broundless. OF several physicians who
We're asked to give their opinion on mans
style of riding for women DR.. Thomas
was the only one whose reply was an I'M
qualified approval He said:
Il think there can be no objection
whatever, either hygienicaIly or aestheti-
sally to women riding astride With re-
gard to its influence on health no evil
3ence has been brought to bear to favor
The view that it is deleterious. If there
are any such evidences they have never
come to my knowledge.
A wOman's seat on the side saddle is
3 very secure, a very serviceabIe and a
very graceful one, and in saying what I
have said in regard to women riding
astrids 1 do not wish to place myself in
the position of urging change from the
present method. In my judgment it is q
matter OF taste and of preference. [
merely wish to assert that there is moth
Ing absolutely deleterious in riding
Rstide. I very recently spent six months
In Colorado Springs, where riding
RstriGe by women is the, rule and the use
OF the side saddle is the exception. It is
very remarkable how the constant sight
Of women riding in this way removes
ueep-rooted and ancient prejudices.''
ONE OBJECTION ANSWERED.
IN answer to question based on the
statement OF a Washington riding master
that the length of a woman's leg from
the knee to the hip is so short as NOT to
Rnow her TO obtain a firm and al the
same time comfortable grip on the sad
ole, DR.. Thomas said:
am perfectly familiar with all tho
speclous statements about the legs of
women being incompetent to get a perfect
grasp OF the saddle on account of their
peculiar shape. Let any one watch five
u SIN women abreast riding at half
speed along Cascade avenno -
colorado Springs, with perfect safe
y ana wonderful DASH and he will
feel sure that this criticism is Absolutely,
VaIueIess. Personally, 1 do not favov
Inc change but my personal preference
-. - uilnportant: merely wish to ansvor,
s ne opJect!ons to a style of horsewonoan-
snip that Is not popular"
Other physicians expressed +box,o,-..
- Nis OIously opposed to the chance in
me style of riding. Their views are 70 r,, ~
= covered in the opinion of DR. Ca
r. Shrady, who said: "eorse
ne ne present method of riding has -, -
e@HcIloh Of long usage and do ~ ne
- Necessity OF making any chance -
tllI9 Iate day. The only !n7proI-e,,, q
t'-''' iiilsht oe suggested is that a Won
a.. OH"Ilse her position from time -
ma siS lleN eIlt the overdevelOpment Of
ny ny sue at the expense of the o+bay
mere are coed MANY phvsicai , otilel.
WY women SHOULD not ride aSt,;d"
JAoISeWoinen are ordinarily beo1tbI,- 80
tIllhk 1t would be just as we'll - Ia
wei enough aione.' "0'i |" let
OPPOSED BY RIDING NrAsrpne
o, [nimGns New 4ork's riding masters tho
an s4I-r1 70 any change from the pres
en- style of riding is most nro,Io,,, ~ %
They admit that riding side eo6 I1iouiiced'
tendency TO make the rider CO. 10 -ga d
HuI II Is not necessary to ride ostrid:
~ met TINS objection, thew dec1ora
H,osC OF the riding academies-in foo4
a. al u them, with single excen+io,1
me managers said they would hermit
no woman pupil to ride astride, -ii'
most OF the riding masters tho
fer. o i,l-4, - an ola story. Maj. &c Kief
teI' instructor at the Central PARK acod
envy, said: a n dcau-
saw this thing tested seriously in
LONDON some years ago. IT wa to.-4a5
III cross country work and ridine, astri7o
was detrimental to the woman's nhvei-
"a WeHare. The greatest objection to
the side saddle is that it is apt to devet1
Ol one MP at the expense of the otber
HIulng alternately off and near-that is
Oh the right and left sides-wilI nrevant
any overdeyelopment
OI course, in riding over mountains
OF IN going short distances it some
tlneS becomes necessary for woman ~
noe astTide. But 90 not call this rid
Ing, fer the horse would be poino ~
walk. In cross country riding. where
the jar comes suddenly, it is a different
thing. "4iAei eiit
THE PERFECT BALANCE
THE Incorrect seat-in the sidosoda,. =
what causes the trouble in This coII-lt,I -
Inc sldesaddIe is not supposed to he ono
sized A woman is supposed to sit Gov
recIy and equally on both hin bones
ana SO balanced without the use of stir'
rups. This puts the point of weight over
the middle Of the horses BODY. thereby
putting the pommel Of the saddle. instead
OF III the bend of the knee, in the +btolr
Oh the thigh Of the right leg or left
leg. This gives a woman a perfect hal
bhce without the use of the stirrup. Rid
ing astride is unwomanlike, to say moth
Ing OF its being unladylike."
Its an old story and has been thresh-
ed over before" declared Mr.. Durland
Of Durlands Riding academy. at don't
care to be quoted as to going info ~
physical discussion of the subject Wor,,-
an have come to this academy and want
sd to ride astride, and I have never al
lowed them TO do so. The present stvIe
of riding is the most graceful, heaIthful.
and certainly the most ladylike"