Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-06-20
SHAPELY MAIDENS.
CHICAGO CLAIMS TO LAY IT OVER
GAY NEW YORK.

Of Chicago Girls Feet Has No Ground for
Foundation-Wardrobe Matron Of Days
New York Theater Tells Some Secrets Of the
"Winss."
Nine. Ada Barclay, wardrobe wo-
man at Daly's Theater, explodes the
time -honored libel that the feet OF the
Chicago girl are larger than those of
her New York sister. The reverse is
true, she says. Nine. Barclay also
claims that the Western girl is more
shapely creature than her sister OF the
East; that the Western girl more
nearly approaches the ideal in lines
and curves; is better exponent Of
true feminine beauty OF form, if not OF
face.
Nine. Barclay reads from her little
diary the record of measurements for
more than twenty years, and the jury,
prejudiced though it may be, must be
compelled to award the palm to the
| w eStern maiden.
"Never again make witticism at
the expense OF the feet OF the Chicago
GIRL" she said. "If you do you will
merely betray your ignorance. Why?
Well, because Chicago girls have
small feet, smaller, much smaller,
than those of the New York girl.
And, what is more, Chicago girls have
prettier figures than the New York
girls.
"Strange? Yes, in view of the
common superstition, but true. !
have never said anything about it be-
cause no one ever asked me, but l
have known it for many years, and
with me it is no theory, for my meas
urements, taken to fit the young wo-
men of tho various sections of the
country with Heshlings and other ac-
cessories of the wardrobe, tell the
story.
Figures don't lie, you know, else
the tights and other articles. made ac-
cording to my figures, would not have
fitted the girls for whom they were
designed"
"King Dodo," the musical comedy
now playing at Daly's, is a Chicago
production. The scenery and other
accessories are of Chicago design and
make, and the chorus of nearly fifty
girls employed in it during the initial
run in Chicago was organized on the
spot. When the contract for the New
York engagement was signed it was
found that nearly one-half of the
chorus girls could not leave home and
that the deficiency in the ranks would
have to be made up by girls obtained
on Broadway. OF course, there we're
costumes to be ordered for the new
girls, and these it was decided, should
be made in New York.
"Unthinkingly the executive of the
company who laid the order with
New York costumers sent on the fig.
ures of measurements from which the
original costumes were made. An
agency obtained the twenty girls
wanted for the cast. They were typi-
cal of Broadway and the managers de-
clare they are top notches.'
Rehearsals with the music were
begun and finally the depleted COM
pauy arrived to absorb the New York
girls. The shoes, fieshings. trunks,
bodices and other articles were de.
livered, were handed over to the mem.
bers OF the company and at last the
day for dress rehearsal arrived. Then
there was trouble. The Chicago con.
tingent put in an appearance at the
theater, their garments fitting so well
that there was not wrinkle. There
was cry OF despair from the stage
manager when the New York girls
stepped on the stage. and snickers
even loud laughter, from the othe,
members of the company.
"The poor girls were nothing less
than caricatures Of a chorus. They
had not been able to put on the shoes
secured for them at all, for they were
far too small. The fleshlings were al
much too large as the shoes were toe
small, and tapped about them in q
ridiculous way. In fact everything
except the shoes were too large"
Here are the average measurements
Of the twenty odd girls from Chicago
Height, feet Al inches to feet
inches; size OF shoes, 3B; circumfer.
ence of calf, IA to Is inches: ankle Z!
to s inches; hips, 46 inches; waist, %
to "a inches; bust, 36 to 80 inches
shoulders 40 to AZ inches.
. These are the averages OF the twenty
New York girls: Height, 5 feet 6!
, inches; size of shoes, 4tA last; calf
r 13 inches; ankle, s! to 8 inches
hips, SO inches; waist, % to "a inches
| bust, SO to "a inches; shoulders, 81
e inches.
= An expert describes the difference
between the two types by saying tha
the Western girl is stronger in luni
capacity, the New York girl showing
}, much smaller chest girth. This ex
i pert, an anthropologist, has taken tn
t anthropometric measurements of !,