The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1910-10-02
HObB[E SKIRT
CAUSES STRIKE
Ten Dainty Danseuses Draw the
Line at Tethered
TOOtSieS.

Los ANGELES, September 12.-Ten
chorus rls. members of the s'Tovshop
Pastimes' act, went on strike at a
special rehearsal yesterday morning
/ They walked out, and il took all the
diplomacy OF Jimmie Lucas. the head
Of the act, and Josephine Fields, the
feminine star, to get them back in time
for the matinee yesterday at the Or
rneum. And the whole strike was be-
cause they were asked to wear hobbIe
SIX jrtS.
Now. the hobbe skirt may be fash
ION latest dictum. and most women,
especially chorus girls, are anxious to
be right up 10 the minute in their wear
ing apparel. But in this case it was
different.
The girls were called last week to
rehearse new number for the act,
which was to be interpolated at the
matinee today 1t was to satirize the
latest kink in feminine fashion. and to
illustrate il, the girls were supposed
20 don the hobble skirt.
The dress rehearsal was called for
yesterday morning. The new costumes
were on hand The girls were told to
don them. Then, things happened.
Florence Fletcher started the trouble
She got into the hobble first, and tried
to take her dance steps. A bundle
of very angry femininity picked itself
up from corner of the stage; tripped
across few braces and set screws, and
grew red in the face.
cit s horrid' she exclaimed. "I
can t walk in the thing. let alone dance
in it.
The other girls gathered about, the
hobbies over their arms.
''I should say as much,' declared
Annabel Nelson. as she glanced at the
dust on Miss Fletcher 5 garb. Il never
could wear one like that
We shouldn t be expected to risk
our necks. said Harriet Lee.
''Nor our legs nterpolated We're
de We're II think it is a shame.
~ IN perfectly willing to wear
tights added Tcssie Neidig, ''but
those things are positively indecent. -
They gathered in force about poor
little Miss Fletcher and condoled with
her. AID then the voice of Jimmie
Lucas came from the wings.
''Hurry' up, girls; we must try this
ont in costume.'' he called.
There was a hastv consultation
among the corvphees, and all looked TO
Florence Fletcher, as the first injured
member. to be their spokesman. She
became a walking delegate on the spot.
and the whole bunch went out on strike
without waiting for orders
.'Nevpr.t' was he consensus of opln-
ion. "Never VII we wear hobbies. We
won 4 kick on tights. or tartans, be
they ever so skinny, but to have our
heels all bound round with a woolen
string is too, too much. =
Whcreupon the delegation waited
upon Mr. Lucas. and with Miss Fetch
or as spokesman and delegate, informed
him of their ultjmatum.
I'VE simply can t. and won t, was
the gist Of their remarks.
Mis-, Fields appealed to the strikers.
hut they laughed at her.
. ou don t have to dance in yours,'
was their crushing and unansworable
reply
But. can + you-compromiSe2 ! be
lievc that is the word 10 nse-or ism t
il arhitrate? Oh, YES. lets arhitrate-
Miss Fletcher was agreed upon as the
representatives of the girls, aud she
and Miss Fields threshed the matter
out. 1t was finally decided to let Mr..
Lucas don one of the skirts and if he
could dance in it, the girls We're TO
try IT, collectively. Mr.. Lucas object
ed lint was outvoted. and in a few
minutes probably the first man t. don
I hobble appeared in shame faced
/ agony upon the Orpheum stage. And,
though an expert terpsichorean, Jimmie
couldn I DO q step in the hobble to save
his life.
.sCut 'em out he shouted, cts
cruelty TO animals m agin the hob
bles Wen omit that number.
The strike was over. The others fell
upon The neck Of little Miss Fletcher
one by one and cried for JOY. Mean
while the act was hastily revamped.
and the hobbies were cut