Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-04-14
GIVES
HER
REASONS
New York Leader Who
First Rode Man
fashion
Many Women of High Social
Degree Are Following
Her Example

her known as hOrsewoman in the
country over adopted mans sad
die and rode astride, Eastern women
gasped in amazement at this bold in
PRODUCTION east of the Mississippi OF
the Western woman's unconventional
way of riding.
But little leaven leaveneth the
whole loaf. Mrs. Hitchcock was SO
enthusiastic over the advantages of
the change of position and demon
strated them so expertly about her
country place in Westbury, L. l., and
in Aiken, s. c., where she leads the
stag hunt Of the winter colony, that
she rapidly won recruits among her
set, and, the news spreading abroad
that these fashionable danes and
damsels were abandoning the side
saddle, other horsewomen followed
suit.
Now every hunt club meet reveals
one or more fair convert to the man
saddle. Miss Alice Roosevelt is, per
haps, the most distinguished recent
recruit, and many of her young Wash
ington friends are following her ex.
ample.
Mrs. Hitchcock, who has ridden all
her life. says she never knew what
oO,,, fort ,p tbo eaddIa uas ,,,r.I aba
adopted her present mode of riding,
She regards it, too, as the safest and
most healthful way, and because of
her firm, free seat takes five-barred
fences like a bird and plays a game
of polo of which any man might be
proud.
So thoroughly does she approve of
the mans saddle that she is having
her small daughter taught to use one,
and little Miss Hitchcock, galloping
about astride her pony "Doughnuts,"
is familiar figure to the country
side wherever the Hitchcocks may
be.
Converts to riding astride are not
of one mind in regard to the proper
sort of habit. In conservative Bos-
ton, where, oddly enough, fashiona-
BILE equestriennes have made it pro
nouncedly the vogue, the divided
skirt is the popular and only cut
countenanced
Mrs. Hitchcock and her followers,
on the contrary, condemn the divid-
ed skirt as an ugly compromise, and
come out strong for ridingcoat and
breeches cut similar TO a mans, but
adapted to the feminine figure.
Many women and girls" said Mrs.
Hitchcock, enthusiastically, in dis
cussing the subject, "are slow to try
the new way of riding, because they
do not know just what to wear or
how to wear II. l think II more wom-
en- only knew comfortable and nice
looking way to dress, riding astride
would be more popular than ever,
especially with the young girls com.
ing on"
Mrs. Hitchcock's habit is a model
OF its kind and one to which, It would
seem, the most prudish could not
offer objection. 1t consists of a long.
sldrted, single-breasted, coat button.
ing snugly down the front like a
mans, the skirt parting in front
across the saddle and falling straight
ON either side below the knees. In.
verted pleats in the back. which is.
OF course, open, give a little fulness
and improve the hang of the skirt.
Built by an experienced tailor. the
lines Of the coat are perfect. The
style can be easily copied and would
be becoming to any woman whose
hgure shows to advantage on a horse
With the coat are worn riding
breeches of the same material and
shade-brown is Mrs. Hitcheock's
favorite color-which do not show
for they are covered to the knees
where the skirt of the coat fans by
hlgh'topped boots.
A comfortable soft felt hat com
pletes Mrs. Hiteheock's costume
which is given distlnctively femi.
nine touch by the big bow Of black
'aneta ribbon tied on to her hair.
musly braided in the nape OF her
neck.
In the large cities, where riding Is
chiefly confined to trOtting IN the
parks and schools, sitting astrIsa 4
for safety, less important than n re
dashing gait OF erOss-country ridins.
lbut Tor health and comfort the new