Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1916-05-08
SKIRT OR BREECHES
WH|CHSHALL THEY WEAR
WOmen's Self-Defense Body Decides
On Uniform.
ALL VERY SIMPLE.
Bifurcated Go in the Calvalry and
Wearers of Skirts in Infantry.

Brooches or Skirts" which
threatened the very life of the Amer
lean Womans League for Self-De-
tense, of New York, the first organiza-
ton of its kind in this country. is
decided
1t is not either breeches or skirts but
both. All the five hundred girls. rang
ing in age from to -, who belong to
the League, on whichever side they
may stani-bilurcated or Otherwise
are going to be happy. The matter
was settled in private. The organization
has been divided into two sections. in
fantry and cavalry, with distinct uni
forms-soldiers on foot, skirts. sol
iders on horse, breeches.
Now 1t is a simple matter Each
woman soldier as she goes up to be
measured for her uniform will he ask
ed the one question: Brooches or
skirt?'
'Breeches," she replies
Very we'll; you are in the cavalry"
Skirts" says the next woman sol
der, with equal determination.
Very we'll" is the answer, pass ON
to the tape measurer. You belong TO
the infantry"
Mrs. Lee C.. Boardman, who is chief
of the executive board, announced yes
terday the settlement of the question.
Every member will draw a breath OF
relief, for, as a matter of fact, this is
the fourth time that the question has
been decided positively.
Four weeks ago at the Ninth Regi-
ment ArmoIy, Washington, where the
League meets, following the drill there
was a measuring bee in one Of the
company rooms. A batch of military
tailors was on hand and each girl was
measured for skirt. hat ami puttees.
There were those present then who
argued that breeches were the only
thing for real service At the next
meeting, the following week breeches
enthusiasts had come to the front
however, the tailors had been held of
and there was another vote taken for
breeches.
That decision lasted until another
drill last Friday, when Mrs. Ida Powell
Priest appeared as the new president
| of the League with a strong predelec-
ton of petticoats, and up bobbed the
question for the third time.
Mrs Boardman promises that the
uniforms will be ready for the League
in two weeks and that there will then
be a ceremonial review, with General
Leonard Wood and Colonel Theodore
| Roosevelt to put the girls through
| their PAGES.
There are going to be some resigna-
| tions from the League, because it has
| been discovered that there are mem
| bers who are not willing to take the
| oath of allegiance to the United States.
One of these is a German woman who
is an instructor at Columbia. Mrs.
| Boardman says. she had become d
regular member of the League. with
| dues paid. but when asked if she would
take the oath she returned a decided
| Certainly not"
Another, an English woman. sabi:
81 have been in your country four
years. l have taken the Red Cross
course. | like your country"
| You viii be willing to live here ?'
she was asked.
| Indeed ! would not. she replied.
| She will not be considered a good
citizen of the United States. On the
other side there is nice little Swiss
woman who is about TO become a cit
izen, mad some Polish girls are delight
ed to take the oath of allegiance