Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1900-12-06
THE NEW POSITION
In 4 SADDLE
Smart Women Believing the Side
Seat to Be Injurious, Are Learn
ing to Ride Astrlde.

|
Miss Gussie Rahe Of Gotham, is one
OF the few women in American society
who ave had the courage to ridex
@strfde in public. !
Miss Rahe, in addition to being q
very pretty girl. is an accomplished
horsewoman. 1t was because she was
q lover of the horse that she refused
to ride in the way that convention has
laid down for women, claiming that it
was not only dangerous to the rider.
blu injurious to the horse.
Many smart Englishwomen rode
astride to the autumn hunts. In the ,
West It is now almost a universal GUS
tom. But the women of the East have
been slow to adopt this style. Miss
Rahe attempted to show them that it
was a PRETTY ard sensible way to sit
a horse. She did not succeed in con-
vincing them, because-weIl, this is
what she said on the subject to a rec
porter of this
Men didn't seem to object to the
dfvided-skirt riding habit, or eve to
pay any attention to me. But, oh, the
women!
"They stared, they laughed, they
commented audib1y, called me a bold
thing and other UncoLpI1in1entary
names. In point of fact, there was
nothing conspicuous IN my mount. My
habit was black. simple and well fit
ting. To the causal observer there was
nothing unusual in my appearance.
Viewed from the side it was not ap-
parent that I was not riding in the
old-fashioned way. AS some one has
put it, I looked as though I were rid
ing sidesaddle on both sides f,
ST have always contended that the
fact that you are a woman does not
give you any right to hump yourself
mp on one side of a horse. You put
yourself at a disadvantage and impose
on a helpless animal. Common sense
teaches any one that this position is
absurd. Women hold to it on account
of their love for traditions.
'The bicycle should have done much
to ~disabuse their minds of the side
saddle idea. There is just as much
reason why a woman should ride side
wise on a wheel as on a horse. It is
simply a question of prejudice.
1.-THE time is fast coming when all
sensible women will ride astride. It
means freedom and comfort for horse
and rider. On a sidesaddle a woman
is at the mercy of the saddle girth.
She is out of ba1ance. She cannot sit
a horse firmly. If the animal give a
sudden jump or stumbles, she is in
imminent danger of being pitched over
his head. In case of an accident there
is the danger of her skirt catching on
the horn of the saddle. In time of
danger she is at a disadvantage. No
matter how expert a horsewoman she
may be, her tenure of the awkward
seat is uncertain.
"Wearing a divided skirt-and when
she is unmounted this habit in no way
differs from an ordinary bicycle suit
she Is assured Of freedom of motion.
She can mount and disnaount with
ease. There is no wrinkled-up skirt
upon which she must sit. She is prop
erly poised, and both rider and horse
are more comfortable in consequence
Many wel1-known physicians have
recommended that women ride astride
from a health standpoint. Lovers OF
horses ave preached it from humane
considerations. The woman who has
once tried it and found out Tor hersel1
the security and comfort it insure:
will never Willingly give it up.
%fS must be remembered that WheE
women first began to wear the shor
walking skirts. now so generally seer
and approved, there was a loud out
cry from the conservative sisters. Tn
.SNomanly was the term used, thai
which there is no deeper reproach from
woman to woman. But the practica
woman persisted that the short Skin
was comfortable and sensible. TIL
athletic gin found it a necessity. S.
it went on increasing in popularity
That will be the history of ridin:
astride among women. When the nov
city has worn off, the good sense Q
the plan will suggest itself.
"Al1 depends upon the habit. ]
must be of good material, neat an
we'll fitted. It is made much after tn
pattern OF the vid skirt worn b
Wheelwomen The waist should follo1
the fashion in riding habits. The Skin
just escapes the ground when tn
wearer is standing. 1t is gathered t
49, how'd ~ &I0 1S- - 4Io+ +L@-~
a slight fitness. It is stitched togeth
CT for about twelve inches in the cen
tire OF the front and back, with severe
rows of stitching which continue dow
to and around the hem, making a pref
xy finish.
Patent hooks may be added down tn
opening in back and front to the hen
and by means of these when off tn
horse the skirt can he easily CLOSED
Bloomers of the same material al
worn. When mounted, the skirts reac
to the feet of the wearer, and If mad
Of heavy material they will not fl.
even in a strong wind, provided a We
man sits her horse properly. Tt
usual mans saddle, with small still
rups should be used.
1.-The sidesadd1e undoubtedly hand
caps a woman. That she does some
times become a superb rider in spi1
Of It is due to her pluck, nerve ar
&aAs9ity, for to gain proficiency 81
mas to overcome any obstacles. 7
ride crosswise adds to her comfo1
ease, repose, relaxation and frmnes
"a famous physician nee said {
this question: L believe that wome
should not be hindered from riding
man does, e3d +he+ - would be bs'
proper, modest, comfortable and SAT
and that in all these respects it is il
fnitely to be preferred to the side p
sition.'
To Relieve a Cough.
A sudden and Wearying attack