The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-19
EMBARRASSING TO SOME FOLK.

New York Sun.

III You See the Lady's Stockings Don't
Tell Her of 1t.
New York Sun.
This story may seem incredible II you
are old-fashioned; but it is neither an in
vention nor an exaggeration. Lots of peo-
pie know that to hold up ones petticoats
in the street, in the manner and to the ex-
tent described, is a fashion which is maxi
ing it's way. Sceptics can have all doubts
removed by the simple plan of keeping
their eyes open.
1t should be explained at the start that
the women who exhibit this fashion are
doubtless estimable otherwise in their own
spheres. Nevertheless the result is start
ling to old-fahioned ideas.
1t also leads sometimes to embarrassing
situations. For example. two women were
going along a street TO a corner. One of
them was a woman who was not always
able to mind her own business. Her COM
panion was a wiser person.
A third person was crossing the street
at the corner. So it happened that the two
women had a side view of the third
woman.
The woman who was not always able to
mind her own business started when her
eyes fell upon the third woman. 1t was
not a rainy day, by the way. Alarm, per-
plexity, embarrassment and a dozen kindred
emotions were expressed In her face.
"Oh, look there!" she exclaimed 10 her
friend:
Hmm replied her wiser companion,
successfully hiding any emotion she may
nave felt.
fsTspa CoinO 70 foil har - the uuop,o~ uybo
was not always able to mind her own busi-
ness declared. with much nobleness of pur-
pose.
II wouldn't" said her wiser companion.
o course, 1 understand that she will
be dreadfully ashamed and embarrassed
when she knows 1t" insisted the well-mean-
ing woman. but she ought to know about
And before her wiser companion could
interfere she had stopped the third woman.
Excuse me, madam she said, but"
and the remainder of her communication
she whispered.
Fierce hatred flashed in her eyes. Her lips
twltched. She let her skirts fall. Then she
STROBE on without uttering a word.
The woman who was not always able to
mind her own business stared after her
with hurt surprise plainly depicted upon
her c-ountenance. She turned to her wiser
companion.
why did she look at me So" she asked
"Of course 1t was a very embarrassing ac-
cident to have happen to one, but l would
be grateful to a woman who warned me
about a thing like that"
1T was because you didn't understand
her wiser companion replied. II don't
think 1t was an accident. / was going to
explain, only you spoke to her before 1
had time. You see, It's a new fashion. They
say 1t started in the country a year ago
this summer. Now it is spreading in the
city. Only slowly. though. My attention
was first called to it in the spring. But /
am sorry to say l see it oftener now. OF
course, 1t is startling IL you haven't noticed
it before. But you'll get used to it,"
Used to it," exclaimed the first woman.
why, she held her petticoat above the
ground at least"
But such a situation cannot be reduced
to a mere matter of feet and inches. The
ments. Vertical measurements convey abso-
lutely no meaning. Therefore, the estimate
of the distance in this case may be omit
ted.
To those who nave not yet made observa-
tons of this new fashion of walking among
women, 1t may be clearly but briefly de-
scribed. The fashion may be studied in all
its and simplicity In any of the
| paintings by old masters that show the
manner in which Diana and the other god
desses of her day tucked up their petit
coats when they were going hunting.
Only in it's modern phase the fashion has
been modified so that the petticoats are
tucked up on one side only. The draperies
are held in the hand. The other details are
similar, including the height.
That the mere matter of feet and inches
is of little consequence in such situations
is shown by the attention invariably at
tracted by this new fashion when it appears
in the street. One takes such things as a
matter of course among the young ladies
OF the ballet on the stage; but in the street,
Inc in the case of women clearly not of the
dramatic profession, it is unexpected, and,
therefore. entirely different.
Then the first impression generally is that
it is an accident. that the woman is no,
aware of all the facts in the case, and that
of course, heightens the effect.
AS was said by the woman who was
wiser than her companion, there is a theory
that the fashion originated in the country
The golf links have even been blamed for
| il just as they were for that similar fash
ion at the other extreme which burst upon
the town last year when young yomen
went about with their sleeves rolled up tc
their elbows.
ones skirts high while one is scrambline
over rocks and through woods, the theory
does not explain the utility of the fashion
II is a matter of observation that while the
fashion is spreading only slowly, still II
is spreading.
Another explanation advanced which also
does not explain altogether, is that il is
merely an extension of the rainy daisy
idea-a curtailing of IT, rather. But this
is obviously a fling made by the ultra-eon-
sentative at a fashion dear TO every woman
in business and to womankind generally
and OF great benefit.
The theory most plausible on the surface
rests on a different basis. Last winter and
last spring the fashion budgets had much
to say of the beauties of the new hosiery
things all lace and embroidery. with the
monogram of the wearer or the knee.
With feminine enthusiasm these were
sometimes described as sights TO behold
1t is suggested that the victims of the pres
ent fashion ave interpreted this descrip,
ton in an altruistic spirit and are humbly
and earnestly trying to do their duty.
However that may be, the fashion Is Ger.
tainly in town. OF that there can be No
boubt. One has merely TO keep ones eye.
open to be convinced of that fact.
That IL has obtained wider recognition
is susceptible OF a simple explanation
People have been slow TO believe the evi
dence of their own eyes. They have pre-
ferred TO suppose IL was an accident ane