Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-21
OF SHIRT WAISTS
High School Boys Appear in Uncovered
Pink and Blue Stripes.
YOUNG WOMEN TEACHERS ARE SHOCKED
Principal waterhouse Promptly We
toes the Boys shirt Waist, but
superintendent PeaFse Threht-
ems to Sustain IL.

The High school rsculty is in the throes
of a mighty problem. Shall our young men
wear shirt waists? Principal waterhouse
nswered It negatively yesterday morning
and twenty-nine young men walked out,
some to get their coats and some to inter-
view superintendent Pearse with a view to
having the principal overrulcd. just at
present Principal Warehouse is in the
ascendency, but there is a strong proba-
biiity that he will be reversed by tho
higher authority.
The question came up as the result Of a
concerted action whereby nfty-four stud
ents signed an agreement to appear In the
classroom on the morning Of May 20 in
shirt waists, sans vest, sans coat, and with
a leather belt to hide the trouser buttons.
Every student made good his word. At 3
o'clock hfty-four Of the unterrihed filed
into the classroom, Respondent in cool,
neatly Numbered waists, in which blue or
pink stripes on a field Of white predom-
mated, and the young women teachers
clutched the desks for support. They were
wearing shirt waists themselves, but that
was different. They gasped, turned pale,
and sought vainly for som adequate form
of expression.
Then one of them went and told Prin-
cipal Warehouse.
He met one OF the shirt waist boys In
the hall and ordered him to put on his
coat.
Waterhouse On proper Clothes"
Meanwhile the dauntless hfty-four had
become pretty thoroughly scattered
throughout the building. as each had re-
ported to his particular class or study
room. Professor Warehouse couldn't find
- " O. l.. n.11al a waaoNNn1 nf tho
neachers and directed them not to admit q
boy to any school room unless he was
properly clothed"
When the boys heard OF this ruling, such
Of them who had coats with them put them
on, but many had come to school without
coats. OF these there we're thirteen. They
went in a body to the office Of Superin-
tendent Pearse in the city hall, and were
told by the clerk in charge that Mr.. Pearse
would be back at noon. They then went
to Council Bluffs to see II the shirtwaist
and higher education we're compatible there
and found that they were.
tine superintendent OF the Council Bluffs
schools told us that he was heartily In favor
Of any kind Of dress that was comfortable
and at the same time decorous," said one
Of the thirteen, land that he is encourag-
ing the boys to wear shirtwaists. He says
a pupil can't study unless he is COM
Portable"
At IL O'Clock Superintendent Pearse re-
turned to his Office, and a moment later
thirteen pink, white and blue shirtwaists
marched in upon him. One Of the shirt
waists related the foregoing facts. Mr..
Pearse said:
well, boys, you go back TO your work,
and II Mr.. Waterhouse still opposes the
xvaarfn1 ~ ahirtwofofa put on yottr ooata
for today. Then, after school, present your
case to him. Tell him why you want to
wear shirtwaists. Give him a night to
think it over in and II tomorrow he still
Insists In his ruling bring 1t up to me
again and Wen see what can be done with
It,"
This seemed to satisfy the delegation and
1t returned to carry out the order.
Principal Warehouse Said: ~ object to
seeing boys slouching about the halls and
rooms hitching up their trousers in order
10 keep them on. 1t IL un~gentlemanly and
uncouth. / don't know whether these boys
appeared In shirt waists this morning or
whether they were in their shirtsleeves.
One of them, l know, wore a red flannel
shirt. II I permit that l may be expected
before long to let the boys take of their
shirts and go in their gauze undershirts.
those would certainly be cooler than either
shirtwaists or coats. No, there are certain
conventional forms Of dress which we are
all bound to respect"
One OF the original hfty-four said: 1--WE
saw no reason why we shouldn't be per-
mitted to enjoy the same degree of comfort
while at our work during the hot weather
as men In offices and stores enjoy. We all
wore shirtwaists to school while we were
children; the girls wear them at all ages
why shouldn't we wear them now7 Know
ing that we would be made objects of rid
icule If we came In shirtwaists singly, We
decided to organize n little shirtwaist club,
and all come together. dressed as nearly
alike as possible"
Eight or ten OF the students. not having
their coats with them. we're compelled to
remain out Of school all dav.