The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-22

Has Had Many Proposals, but
None Were satisfactory.
OF all the fin de steele women who
promenade the avenues of Vineland, New
Jerseys curfewtown, in trousers, bloom
ers, knickerbockers and various suits of
up-to-date patterns, none has the reputa-
ton as does Miss Susan Becker Fowler,
spinster, of IS summers.
Miss Fowler was one of the original
bloomer girls, she having adopted the re-
form dress over half century ago. She
doesn't take her style from the latest
bloomer fashion plate, yet hers are lux
urious, convenient, hygienic and sensi-
BILE. Miss Fowler usually wears a close
fitting coat with skirts just reaching to
the knees, and then-pantaIoons, some
times of corduroy, often of cheviot. She
suggests, however, the chic bloomer
costume as especially suitable for young
girls.
For a livelihood Miss Fowler tills her
little farm of five acres near the corner
of Chestnut and Malaga avenues. Her
sole companion is cute little yellow
dog. She goes about the farm saving
wood, blowing, hOeing and attending to
the stock in strong leather boots that
reach the knees, and into which she
almost always tucks her trousers.
Though weighing only eighty-four
pounds she is still hale and hearty,
plows and harrows and does all the
work about the farm as dexterously as
any man, and, with her produce stands
regularly in her stall at the market
place.
Miss Fowler last year cultivated 5000
sweet potato plants and boosted of put
ting 1,6OO of the plants into hills in one
day, besides doing other work The
neighbors marvel at the physical endur-
ance of this Jersey farmer woman, but
she ascribes it partly to her reform mode
of dress and partly to her belief in mental
science
Miss Fowler is an enthusiastic mem
Der of mental science school of Vine
land, for which a handsome new building
has recently been erected on Seventh
street.
Miss Fowler is fond of horses and near
ly every day she is seen in her yellow
phaeton. driving through town behind
her bay trotter. Lately, however she
has taken a fancy to bicycles. She may
buy one next summer.
SOME OTHER BELIEFS.
Miss Fowler is a strong advocate of the
cuItew law. She is a staunch woman
sCffragist, and never pays her taxes
without vigorously protesting. Every
year when her taxes become due she
ublishes a letter of protest in the local
Papers and hands written one to the
collector. She paid her taxes few
weeks ago, and this is the letter she
gave to Collector w. c. Hendee:
Taxation without representation is
robbery, and although the mills of JUS
tice may seem to grind very slowly at
times, yet a country that persists in OPP
pressing its mothers. sisters and wives
VIII some time learn that it has built
On a sandy foundation"
Miss Fowler came to Vineland thirty
three years ago as pioneer settler, and
for many years her~life was beset with
prosecutions. Small boys followed her
about the streets, hurting stones Train
nen greeted her with shrill blasts of the
Locomotive whistle and workmen jeered
1t her from the tops. of houses. ~ 7~'''
n descendant of the New England Pu-
Titan stock, she was born in Anesbury,,
lass. In her early days she was a hand
some belle of the town, and relates MANY
{ happy talk with the poet Whittier. She
was also acquainted with Long fellow
MIS-" Fowler taught school for awhile /
and at the age af twenty-cight donned
the bIoomer costume, partly fer health 4
but mainly to reform. After adopting
the bloomer suit she became a merchant
at Amesbury.
At the commencement OF the war she
happened to go through Baltimore when
the Massachusetts regiments passed
through that city. and her peculiarity of
dress, entirely new to that country, led
the people to believe her "a daughter of
q regiment" The feeling against her
consequently ran high An angry mob
followed her through the streets and the
police saved her from serious in Jury by
locking her up. The Poet Whittier ac-
complished her release and she was con-
veyed from the Jail If a carriage guarded
by policemen.
Miss Fowler has been quite prominent
behind the footlights, she being an actress
OF no mean ability. Some time ago in
a play gotten tip by Vineland women
Miss Fowled took the character of an
ultra-fashionable lady. When she an
peared on the stage In her decollete dress
with fluffy hair, balloon sleeves and long
train, the audience went wild. Miss Fowl
er claims she was voted by the audience
the handomeSt actress that ever appeared
In that opera house. 1t is not an uncom-
mon thing to see d Vineland youth. with
forced sedate expression and twinkle
III ms eye enter The market. approach
Miss Fowler's stall and quietly say: Mis-
ter how do you sell your turn:ps and
cabbage" Ignoring the rudcness of the
boy, Miss Fowler always politely made
answer.
When visited the other day she was |
doing her spring blowing Though a wee
Jersey hand maiden of three score years
and fifteen, she steadied the heavy plow
and walked along in the deep fresh fur
rows with the skill and ease of any sturdy
farmer
Whoa Danny came the CHEEKY com
mand when she spied her visitor But
Danny had been given a plentiful supply
of oats that morning and he was more |
than frisky.
You see, Danny, my pillow horse, has
had nothing to do this winter but eat his |
head off, and now he wants to be coitish.
But never mind, Danny, we will have
mat taken out of you by the time these
1--WE acres are plowed. Whoa there.
DAM
Dan was finally led to the corner of
the barn and securely tied and then Miss
Fowler cordially invited her visitor into
the house.
SO you want to interview me, do YOU.
young man, said Miss Fowler as she
proceeded to her study and seated her
self, man fashion, at faultlessly polished
rolling-top desk. Around, and almost OBJ
securing her from view, were piles of
DOCKS and magazines of all descriptions.
HAS HAD MANY PROPOSALS.
Miss Fowler, have you ever had pro-
posal of marriage?"
Ah, l expected that question" said
she' looking up smilingly Then she
dropped her head and remained silent
with a pleasant countenance. az If her
mind was recounting pleasant scenes
Suddenly looking I'D she ranliad. .ev