The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-07-15
AS TO DIVIDED SKIRTS.
The Part Ia Hung Ohang Played in
Koman's Declslon ARaInst Them.

subject under discussion. and the Wo-
mans club which was discussing It
was az divided on the question as. the
subject could possibly be. There were
pros and cons in great number. and
presently small ,quiet-looking woman,
with big. black. thoughtful eyes. got the
combined ear Of the assemblage and
said:
"I'd like to turn this into an expert
ence meeting for a moment. and tell
you OF the time saw Ii Hung Chang.
but he doesn't wear them, does he2"
said the temporary chairwoman. 'If
he did, suppose we'd have heard as
much about them as about the yellow
Jacket"
HE didn't wear them" said the lit
tie woman quietly; "at least. 50 far aS
I could see; but l did, on that coca.
sion. as he or any one else could see,
and that is why array myself against
division"
''YOu have the hoor." said the tempo
rary chairwoman. and the little woman
told her tale aB foilows:
when heard that Ii was here 1
began to have a great curiosity 70 sec
him.
1.-THE papers were Just full OF him,
what an important parsonage he was,
and all that, and thought Il would be
a good thing to see a chlnaman who
really amounts to something for once
In my life. So when the day finally ar
rived on which he was to ride through
the streets I was up bright and early,
and got all my work done long before
the usual time, 50 as to be sure to get
good place where 1 could see every
thing
well. he was expected to pass Madl-
son Square at about $3.50 o'clock, and at
4 O'Clock l was there, standing where
could get a first-rate view Of LIS face.
and was feeling very contented. stood
there a few minutes all right. and al
ready saw the mounted policemen ap-
preaching from down the street, 80
knew Ii was close at hand. when felt
something, I couldn't tell what, going
wrong with my clothes, or rather part
of them.
You know" she continued, after a
moments hesitation. in which the feel
ings awakened by her recollection Of
former predlcament were plainly de-
picted on her face. you know, used
to go In for reform clothing comblna-
lions and divided skirts. Well. had
on divided skirt that day. My pretty
ones were all in the wash. and this one
was uncompromlslngly plain. When
felt something going wrong with me
looked down to see II could discover
any outward and visible signs OF my
misfortune, but couldn't, so kept
on standing aud waiting for Ii.
thought he never would come. but at
last caught sight of two yellow jack
cts two Cinnamon on horseback com
ing UP the street, and. Of course. Ii
must be right behind them; but just at
that moment I felt that awful some
thing slip further and further down,
looked down and saw the-the-well,
oue-haIf Of my divided skirt appear
ing under the edge OF my gown. And
1t kept coming down more and more, so
there was absolutely nothing for me to
do but make grab for the top Of 1t,
througs my skirt, and after one last
| look down the street make for the
nearest seat.
fortunately It was only a few
steps away, and there was seat va
cant, but on either side Of It, Of course,
a great, big. lazy man. slid along over
to 1t, not daring to life my feet from the
ground. and was Just going to sit down
when one Of the men looked up. looked
me over. and Madam, says he, you're
losing something
At could have killed him! glared at
him. I'm well aware Of It, sir!' 1 said,
and sat down with hump. began to
Midget about trying to ind the band, but
the garment had slipped down so far
and had doubled over from the top in
such a way that It was simply Impos-
sIble for me to get hold of 1t. tried to
sit there in the most unconcerned way
possible and looked around calmly, but
oh! Just think how aggravating-there,
Just a few feet away from me, was the
man had come to see passing by. and
1 couldn't make move to see hlml The
people pushed forward. stretched my
neck as high as I could, but stand up
/ dared not, and even II could have
done so-you know how short am and
how nearsIghted. simply had to sit
there and let Ii go by without seeing
even his cap.
"And after he had passed, what was
to do? There were those two men
staying and staying and not showing
sign Of getting up. and how was ever
to get at the plncket of my skirt with
one OF them on each side Of me7 I
hltehed and hItched at that unlucISy
garment under my skirt. I'd pull It UP
q little and slip the skirt down again,
and so on over and over, but It was 50
mixed up someway that made very
little Roadway. And then couldn't
keep Mt 1t long at time. had to stop
and sit still and look around as II l
were enjoying myself immensely. Ana
meantime It was getting later and la
ter, and I'd promised I'd be home by 5
o'clock sure, and you know how partlcu-
lar am in such matters.
After while the man who had spo.