The New York herald., 1922-07-23
MRS. BLOOMER NOT
FIRST TO WEAR EN-
Insisted She Only Copied
'Pantaloons' That Took
Her Name.

Special Dispatch to THE NEW York HERALD.
SENECA FALLS, N. Y. July 22.-Seven-
ty-four years ago last Wednesday the first
woman suffrage meeting In the United
States was called to order IN the Wes-
leyan church here. The building, at
Fall and Mynderse streets. is now a
garage A bronze tablet on the wall
tells of the memorable event.
Among those at the first suffragist
gathering were Elizabeth Stanton Cady.
Mrs. Lucretia Mott Frederick Douglass.
James Mott, Henry B. Stanton, Amelia
jerks Bloomer, Ansel Bascom, David
Dudley Field and others of note. Susan
B. Anthony was not present but came to
Seneca Falls later. met Mrs. Stanton
and the two combined their forces in the
drive for equal suffrage.
At the time three reforms were being
agitated here. They were temperance,
dress reform and the abolition Of slav-
cry. Susan B. Anthony was a leader IN
urging the emancipation of the slaves; ;
Mrs. Elizabeth Smith Miller, daughter
of Congressman Gerrit Smith Of Peter
boro. and Amelia jerks Bloomer were
agitating dress reform. These women
came together for the first time In this
village. a
Records left by Mrs. Bloomer show
she obtained credit for things in con-
nection with the dress reform movement
to which she was not entitled. 1t was
because she gave support to the move
ment that "bloomers'' came to be SO
called. Mrs. Bloomer lays the blame
on the editor of the Courier, a local
paper which ran in competition to her
publication, the Lily
Mrs. Bloomer told of a newspaper
controversy between herself and the
Courier editor in the course of which
she came out in favor of the wearing
Of "pantaloons," as the Seneca Falls
editor had humorously suggested.
About this time" she wrote, ELIZA
beth Smith Miller appeared on the
streets in short skirts and full Turkish
trousers. She came on a visit to her
cousin. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who
was then a resident of Seneca Falls.
Mrs. Miller had been wearing the cos
tune some two months at home and
abroad. Just how she came to adopt 1t
1 have forgotten IL / ever knew. But
she wore 1t with the full approval OF
her father and husband. During her
fathers term In Congress she was in
Washington and the papers of that city
described her appearance on the streets
in the short costume.
"A few days after Mrs Miller's ar
rival in Seneca Falls Mrs Stanton came
out in a dress made in Mrs. Millers
style. She walked our streets In
skirt that came little above the knees,
and trousers of the same material
black satin. Having had part in the
discussion of the dress question II
seemed proper that l should practice as
I had preached, as the Courier man ad-
vised. So few days later ], too,
donned the new costume and in the next
issue of my paper announced that fact
to my readers. At the outset 1 had no
idea that my action would create the
excitement and give to the style my
name and the credit due Mrs. Miller.
That was all the worksof the press. I
stood amazed at the furor had caused"
Mrs. Bloomer goes on to say that the
name "bloomer" became attached to
the costume in spite of her efforts to
have the credit go to Mrs. Miller. Had
she (Mrs. Miller) not come to us In
that STYLE" she wrote, 'it is not prob
able either Mrs. Stanton or myself
would have donned IT,"