New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-27
UNHAMPFRED BY SKIRTS.
Convent Girl Tells Why She Pre-
frrs to UcGr Trousers.

Most women in their secret hearts want wear
trousers. They may likc The erace ~ long skirt
Tor indoor affairs. aut when Il Is a question of
getting somewhere there is se1don who does
MOI hate tIe ciota That flaps around her ankles
and envy for their freedom from II. ANY mum
be- women feel tiis way. but until last fan Dr.
Mary Walker and Mss Susan Fowler the
only TWO Who dared act they felt Bat they
have Disciple, and young. pretty disciple not
long o"; ri her teens and-what makes it more
suGirjsing-just cut Il convent.
Dorothy Foqucrte is the girls name. and she
lives on = t-E cstat" among tho bills above West
Bovtst0n. in Worcester County. Mass. By way Of
showing what trousers viii do Tor person II i
reliably stated thar sl- thirks nothing q, all or
cutting up q cord Il wood That is INST one OF
he little anus ments Sh" hunts too: fishes.
walks great deal. rides horseback with with
saddle. ard automobi!es-alI in trousers She
has got the long distance runners Of the neighoor-
hood all beaten. thai none Of them VIII run
races with heT any more. In fact, she Is an ath-
Ietc young woman. and she appears To have found
the secret q the icy # lie
Miss Poquettes mannel Of taking mems attire
SHOWS good deal OF courage, as Wei a. thought
fJlness. for girl The fact that she lives in the
country makes her act the Drawer for conservatism
dwells in bucOliC haunts Miss POquette did
eschew skirts hastily. She thought all over first
When / in the convent it never occurred TO
me that skirts were A drawback she said 10
Tribune reporter. Perhaps II my people had
stayed in Long Island, where we lived I'LL last fall,
should have gone on dragging yards Of cloth from
my hips and never thought much about II. But we
moved up into this great wide open country, and
the natural woman awoke in me. ! wanted 10 be
outdoors all day. But there were fences TO climb
and stone walls TO get over, and the first fence
scaled I caught my foot IL my skirt and got
tumble. It struck me- at the same time the ground
did. that skirts were silly things why shouIGnt
have my freedom as wei as q boy. ! went home
and read UP on skirts. / started with the times
when men and women dressed alike and I followed
the men IN their upward career as they flung away
q Kilt here A cloak there. and il seemed TO
Thai eyer time they discarded p few wards Of cloth
they gained in productiveness and general superior
ity. Of course. there have been changes IN women's
attire but they have kept their skirtsand look
the result. Just fancy what the world would be
II all the men were suddenly taken out or it-a the
producing. managing. inVenting men Could women
It? They would get their skirts tangled in the
spokes at the first turn Of the wheel
Il resolved that for myself ! would cease being
centuries behind ny period in dress. l reformed
/ went 10 a mems Quitting establishment in
Worcester. and asked for a boys suit. The clerk
asked how large lie boy and l said in the
calmest manner 7 could manage under the crcum-
stances that The s1:t for myself The clerk
opened his mouth. but then he shut 4 again.
could see thar mo yyas considerably surprised but
he probably reflected that lie V'as there TO sell
clothes. always buy nay suits OF that clerk now,
and never have any trouble n securing what !
need.
From that day TO this I've worn trousers and
3 coat When summer came I bought some sets
of white oyeralls and jumpers. They look like
paJaTnas, but Oh. the comfort and the freedom Of
them roam all about the place in them. the
hottest days. and feel cool possible"
Miss Poquctte says she knows people talk good
deal about the gin that wears trousers" and,
EnostlT iu critical Sl-aln hut she does not mind
II don, think there's as much stir about my
clothes as people say" she went Oh. I've heard
thar Whenever / appear in the vIiage-and 7 go
there every afternoon for the MALL cause great
excitement J haven't seen any signs Of j. Now
and then hear IN old man say. Here comes the
gil that wears pants and the boys stare some
but nothing TO hurt. The stir must have been
made b. the goss'ps One storrkeeper tried dis
cnss my garments with my mother. but she lust
tCld him gently that the village wasn't going TO
regulate her daughters clothcs No one mas ever
broached The subject TO me. Tou see I mind nl.y
own business; I'm not seeking notoriety I'D here
In the hills; I'm just seeking freedom And I
get
II ever marry and have chldren-gi-is mean
II II dress theta just like this And I should dress
tae same after marriage But I'm not troubling
ABOUT marriage J have my parents. and my horse
emo ny caI. M fishing tackle and gun ] can cut
down tree as we'll any man know and-Im
ens ncipated from skirts"