The San Francisco call., 1904-04-10
Returning With Treasure Fruits of Archaeological
Research, Ready Sanction Is Granted for
Strange Style Of Touring Garb

PARIS, April s.-One enjoying the
circles In Paris is apt 10 meet at any
time a couple before whom everybody
gives way, and whose appearance viii
profoundly impress the newcomer.
Professor and Madame Dieulafoy,"
the word Is passed round Surely,
there must be some mistake7 That
tan. wen-built, ine-looking man with
the gray mustache and beard may
be Professor Dieulafoy. but his frail
bezrdless companion. dressed in an ir-
rsproachable frock coat and faultless
trousers cannot be his wife! And yet
o more searching look into the refined
and sensitive face, a single glance at
the delicate tapering hands, suffice TO
oispel the illusion created by clothes;
Il is not only a woman, but the most
womsnly Of women.
Perhaps what causes Nine. Dieulafoy
90 be often taken for a man by those
who do not know her is that she wears
her masculine garb without either az
fectation or false modesty. She wears
siders them rational and convenient.
but because she is thoroughly accus-
toned TO wearing them, and acquired
the habit in exceptional circumstances.
Consequently short hair and ties and
: coats and trousers seem quite nat
ural to her. because shelis perfectly at
ease with them
The first time that Nine. Dieulafoy
dressed as a man she was far from
ir.ending TO renounce feminine gar
rnents forever. In 1881 the French
Government had intrusted Marcel
Dieulafov with an important archaeo-
logical mission TO Persia and Susiana,
and Nine. Dieulafoy. whose tastes were
literary and who has always taken
keen interest in archaeological ques-
tions. decided 70 follow her husband
The results Of their joint labors were
70 be OF fnestifnable value to lovers
OF tho antique. for they found the sites
OF the palaces OF Darius and of Arta-
xerxes. and after five years of toll
brought the principal vestiges back TO
the Louvre Museum in Paris. The work
was ulle0 Nltn LdllEueSs QlIlCulLleS ana
dangers. and Nine. Dieulafoy. after
tearing her skirts on prehistoric stones
and tripping over her petticoats in
\ Persian fields, decided that woman's
dress was not devised for archaeology
cal pursuits She envied the ease and
immunity with which her hsuband
moved about, and presently it occur
red 10 her that if she initiated him in
the wilds Of the Orient no one would
be the wiser when she returned to
Paris. So one fine day, not suspect
ing that she was preparing a great
decision in life, she cut her hair,
donned a suit Of mans clothes and
went 10 her work. For the first time
she was free and happy. and accom-
plished so much. that she decided to
continue dressing as a man so long
as she remained in Persia.
DRESSES AS A MAN.
But when she was finally ready TO
return 10 her Paris home, she lacked
the courage TO resume what she had
come TO consider as the slavery of
wonnan's dress. To face public criti-
cism was far less trying an ordeal
For FIVE years she had dressed as a
man. and to dress as a woman seemed
, as antiQusted and absurd to her as it
would be for 2 New York stockbroker
10 parade Wall street in Roman toga.
And she. therefore. filed a formal pc
titIon 10 the French Government ask
ing official authorization to wear mems
clothes in future.
The question Of dress is one of the
many little details Of life regulated
by French law, and the man caught in
the streets wearing woman's clothes
or the woman in mans clothes is
promptly arrested, tried and fined. This
does not mean that such cases are ex-
ceptionsl: indeed, there are in Paris
many women wearing mems clothes.
not as an habitual thing. perhaps, but
or frequent occasions, either as a joke
or from convenience. or, some Of the
fair sex allege, to avoid too much at
tention from men. Yet there.is always
z risk Of scandal involved in such in
stances. and any one making fixed
practice Of outwardly changing sexes
had better face the difficulties in the
way and secure a license IL possible
Exceptions are sometimes necessary
4 with paternal governments which are
supposed 20 oversee everything.
Some Of the laws on dress are hard
and fast. FOR instance. one connected
with the Mardi Gras and Mid-Lenten
festivities On these DAYS all varieties
Of fancy dress are sanctioned. so long
as ones reserve is maintained: men
may masquerade as women. or vice
versa. but woe betide the wretched be-
ing who presumes to appear in tights.
Tor this last offense there is no escane
after commission, and no license to be
bought beforehand. With the mere
question Of mans or woman's clothes.
however. more leniency is shown. and
in exceptional cases and upon presen-
tation of conclusive reasons therefor a
woman may habitually wear mems
clothes or even a man woman's clothes.
Rosa Bonheur received one Of these
rare permits, because she could not. she
said. go about freely sketching in the
81 ,.t,,, bap,rered lbx, skirts 80