The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-10
THEORIGINAL ''BLOOMBR"
Her Name Was Mrs. Mary E. Lewis
and She Died the Other Day.
She Was the First "Newo Woman of
America and Among Other Pro-
gressive Things She Edited the
First Paper in This Country De-
voted to the Womnn's Right Cause.

In an Indiana town there has Just died
Mrs. Mary E. Lewis, the last OF the origi-
nal "bloomers." In 1850 the bloomer cos
tune was invented, and created a great
flutter among all womankind. The ques-
ton, ITO wear or not to wear boomers"
was on every woman's lips. In the course
of evolution that same bloomer fashion
can be seen today in its modified form in
the golf and rainy day skirt.
The bloomer advocates advanced one
strong argument in favor of their inyen-
/ tion-convcnienee The smart woman Of
| the twentieth century advances the same
argument in favor OF her rainy day skirt
| convenience.
| This Mrs. Lewis whose death is Just
recorded was so steadfast in her eonvic-
tons that she wore the bloomer costume
TO the day of her death. She was born in
Wilkesbarre. Pa. in 1919. and moved to
| Ohio in 1913, where she became interested
in the publication OF periodical called
the Lily"
This was the first paper in America de-
voted to the woman's rights cause and It
was edited by Mrs. Mary Bloomer. who
gave her name to the much-derided cos
tune.
The bloomer craze extended to England,
and its disciples were the objects of great
ridicule in that country. Numbers CT
Punch in 1s51-52 are filed with carica-
lures of the bloomerites. bIoomer tall
which took place in London in 1851 Gre
ated great curiosity. Judging from the
alterations in morning costume, IL was
reasonably concluded that an evening
dress in the same style would be extreme
iy piquant
On this particular point expectation was
disappointed for the only remarkable
things in the ball costumes of the few
boomers who attended the festival were
the large hats, which were evidently
adopted with the intention of equalizing
the balance and of covering the head as
a kind of compensation for uncovering the
feet.
The confusion arising from the mascu-
line habiliments worn by the ladies on this
occasion was curiOusly exemplifed by the
fact that several or the gentlemen present
were forced to reiterate to the crowd as
sembIed at the doors energetic assurances
that they were not Boomers before they
were permitted to pass.
Among the many contributions to the
late suffrage bazaar were three or four
numbers of the Lily sent by this Mrs.
Lewis who he's just died. Upon receipt
of them Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait the
President Of the National Suffrage Asso-
citation, fell into I reminiscent mood, and
told the following anecdote of an inter-
view she had had with Mrs Bloomer a
short time before she died.
Il was dong newspaper work at that
time" said Mrs Gait, and happening to
be in Mrs. Boomers town requested an
interview with her. l not only thought I
could get good story from her but /
was curious to see the woman who had
originated the bloomer costume.
ION the day appointed I went to the
house. OF course, l was prepared to meet
large, masculine, forceful-looking wom-
an, in keeping with all l had read and
heard of her teachings and work The
suffrage woman of forty years ago lat
least, so 1 have been told twas strong
minded large of frame, and Loudly voiced.
Imagine my surprise when Mrs Bloom
er entered the room 10 md her the dainti-
est little Dresden figure of woman l had
ever seen. She was gowned in the latest
Partisan fashion. Web-like lace fell over
her pretty little hands. cobwebby piece
Of lace set off her beautiful snow white
hair. The lace at her neck was caught with
4 pearl pin.
Her little feet, as they peeped from
under silk gown, were shod in French
kid slippers with Louis XIV heels. Her
stockings. as she sat down and her dress
lifted a little, showing her ankles, 1 saw
were CT open-work silk.
'She was the picture of everything wom-
anly, everything frivolous, as far as dress
was concerned l could not reconcile my
self TO the thought that this exquisite
creature was the woman who had origi-
mated the much derided bloomer costume.
Her mind, though, had lost none Of its
force, none of its strength. The words
which fell from her lips were words of
wisdom indeed and before l left her she
had given advice which has heen
of the greatest service to me in my SUI
frage work.