The age-herald., 1901-03-31
GAVE AIKEN A SHOCK.
Not Eaey to Get Accustomed to
 Women Riding Astrlde.

From the Baltimore Sun.
 Aiken, s. C.-It will take the good, quiet people who live the year round in Aiken and vicinity and whose an- cestors have lived in the same place for a hundred years or more, long time to get accustomed to the ultra fashionable method of horseback rid ing adopted by some of the leaders of the smart set who spend their win ters and their money in this town, built on healthy sand.
 It required about five years for the old set here to get used to seeing women on bicycles. In Charleston's inner circle it will never be consid- cred modest The gray-haired mat rons will declare such exhibitions would have been considered shocking ''in our day" Fortunately these are safe from the shock of seeing women ride astride. No native would ever dare to attemp it, and visitors will respect traditions and the sense of propriety that pervades the place. h. deed, the police might not permit 1t.
 But in Aiken it Is different. The na- tives rent their houses and sell their lands for large profit and are in sense prepared for eventualities. They and the -Four Hundred don't mix" The Aikenites just look on from a little distance, making all the money they can, selling everything they can, and, In fact, reserving noth- ing except the privilege of suffering an occasional shock. The visitors, for the lack of conventional amusement of the cities and having to manufac- ture pleasures or occupations, act without restraint They are on lark, out of sight of the world.
 It has been two years since New York woman first rode on mans sad dle in Aiken and electrified the town. It is related that lawyer of proml- hence, noted for his eloquence and the ease with which he expressed himself, was embarrassed when, after witness ing her mount horse, he met bevy of his townswomen and attempted to explain to them the phenomenon.
 When the lawyer, to impress upon the doubting ladies of Aiken how the visitor from wicked Gotham had got into her saddle, explained that she had put her left foot into the stirrup and thrown the other-he came to a stop, hesitated, stammered and finally admitted the lady had gotten her other foot" over the saddle. He abandoned uer in a position that would have done credit to an accomplished circus per former.
 An old countryman, driving an OK cart loaded with "lightwood' into Ali ken recently, was passed by a caval- cade composed of men and women, the dainty boots of a pretty girl showing on both sides of ler pony. After they had passed he exclaimed:
 wall eff thet feller hadn't been a settin' straddle, I'd swore twas gal. These yere smooth-skinned dudes is turnin' ter wimin-'
 Many native women who ride horse pack approve the new style. They declare 1t is more modest than the skirts worn on slde-saddles, is safer for the women and easier on the horse, bu. none of them has yet mustered the courage to face her friends in that position.
 Two seasons ago Mrs Smith-Hadden of New York was the only woman at Aiken to ride astride. This season her lead for emancipation from the riding habit" has been followed by Mrs. Thomas Hitchcock, Jr., Mrs. John Ja- cob Astor, Mrs. Ed Smith, Mrs. George smith, Miss Hitchcock, Miss Eustis and a number of others.
 Following the hounds, in polo games and on pleasure rides they wear baggy brooches, or "bloomers," if that sounds better, top-boots ana riding coats. Dis mounted in the country, the wearer of such costume has not to hunt for a stump, a fence or a man to help her to the saddle. With greater natural suppleness than a man, she throws herself across the horse with more ease and grace, and once there she is more difficult to dislodge.
 All admit that the side-saddle will remain in use for good many years yet. but those who have taken the plunge and dropped the long skirt de- clare they could not be induced to re- turn to them.sand that their uneman- cipated sisters are sacrificing much satisfaction and comfort to sentiment.
 Scythe-shaped.