The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-03-30
Hrances England in New York I'll
bune.)

And still equality OF sen uoe@ ~
exist. Everything else being equai'
women allow themselves 70 De manu-
capped by dress. Men have devised d
simple, easily adjusted costume, "lio
Is correct on any OCCASION, ana which
NAV ne worn six years and still De III
styie Women, on the other manu.
must compete with men In business
and professions, and then give up
hours of their time to sewing on put
tons, changing their gowns, ano plah-
ming and trying on new ones.
All Of which leads Mrs. trencn
sheldon to remark that as long as Wo-
men are slaves to clothes, they are
slaves. Mrs. Sheldon, by the way, III
spite Of the handicap of clothes, mas
found time to win success as an eX-
plorer, big game hunter, doctor, ar
list, author, sculptor, and as the trans
latorNo of "Salambo," Flauberts difficult
masterpiece In the drawing room
OF the Great Northern Hotel h talk
ed Of her full and varied career. and
explained how she had overcome some
Of the difficulties Of dress.
when / was q physician l planned
q simple costume that gave me per-
feet freedom, and which was arts
tic ut the same time. As long as l
practisei medicine l wore this style OF
garment, and 1 wore it on all sorts of
occasions. The only variation between
the costume / wore during he day
and the one designed for evening wear
was in the material. The style was
the same.
Different Uniform for Each Profess
sion.
II think that women OF different
professions should standardize q cos
tune for their profession, a costume
that will be accepted and correct on
any occasion. You are q journalist
she turned to me suddenly, Why
shouldn't all the women Of your pro-
fession wear the same general style
Of garment? Then, wherever You
went it would be correct. For even
ing wear you could have it made OF
silk or some liner material, but there
would be no necessity for changing
the general style"
Il don want women to be less
feminine" Mrs. French continued in
her pleasing English voice. 1T isn't
necessary for them to dress any less
attractively, but 1t is necessary for
them to be efficient in their dress.
They must learn TO rid themselves OF
the trivial details Of dress as men
have done. A mar physician, for in
stance, doesn't spend any of his val
liable time sewing on buttons and
darning socks. And a professional
woman shouldn't either. And they
shouldn't a to get our or five new
gowns a season, when a man car
Last night / complimented a
friend on his well-groomed appear
ance. He seemed SO immaculate and
irreproachable. But when he told me
that he had worn the dress suit sis
years I almost felt like pouring white.
wash on It. You see, / thought Of ali
the ONE who are denied an even.
snD nf n1aaGIIro hooar1co fhnx n
ashamed to appear in an old-fashion.
ed gown. Think what it would NEAR
* women could wear a gown six year.
and still feel as proud in it as a MAJ
does of his dress suit"
And then Mrs. Sheldon went on Il
tell Of costumes she wore on her ex
ploring trip through the heart Of sav
age Africa. THAT was many year
ago. before the coming of mission
aries and white men, and Mrs. SHIELD
on was a young and beautiful woman
IA allowed no white woman or whit,
man to go with her, and was accom-
panied only by natives.
Il spent eight years getting read
Tor my trip she said. She is a small
rather frail appearing oma with
Singularly young face for her age, an,
a youthful vivacity in her O
speaking. Il had been successful i
my practice of medicine, in art, i
writing DOCKS, in sculpture. I had
luxurious home, everything i wante
and still l was not satisfied.
Sine my childhood, when l ha
heard explorers tell of their trips a
my father home. j had felt a desir
to explore unknown countries. So
set about to prepare myself for m
trip. / think women can do anythin
II they prepare themselves for it.
learned to swim, to shoot. to bull
~ 100 70 MI ~ AA 81
thing that would be helpful to me o
such a trip.
Then / started off, alone. I too
WIN me, along with the necessities {
such a trip, a trunkful of Par
gowns bracelets and necklaces, and
beautiful blond wig. There wer
many persons who thought did tn
out of vanity and laughed when the
heard Of 1t. But l had a very goo
reason. Before We reached a natiy
village | would ave my caravan ste
II put up my tent. / would put c
nv most gorgeous oayu,ep+C ~ ton