Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1922-09-22
MRS. BLoOMER NOT TIE FIRST.
Insisted She Only Copied Plantations
That Took Her Name.

Seventy-four years ago July 10, the
first woman suffrage meeting in the
United States was called to order in the
Wesleyan church, at Seneca Falls. The
is now a garage. A bronze tablet on
the wall tellz of the memorable event.
Among those at the first suffragist
gathering were Elizabeth Cady Stanton,
Mrs. Lucretia Mott Frederick Douglass,
James Mott, Henry b. Stanton, Amelia
jerks Bloomer, Ansel Bascom David
Dudley Field and others of note. Susan
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. They were temperance, dress
reform and the abolition of slavery
Susan b. Anthony was u leader in urg-
ing the emancipation of the slaves; Mrs
Elizabeth Smith Miller, daughter of
Congressman Gerrit Smith of Peterboro
and Amelia jerks Bloomer were agitat.
ing dress reform. These women came
together for the first time in Senaca
Falls village
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 be
cause she gave support to the movement
that "bloomers" came to be so called
Mrs. Bloomer lays the blame on the
editor of the Courier local paper
which ran in competition to her publica
ton, the Lily.
Mrs Bloomer told of 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 edi
tor had humorously suggested.
"About this time" she wrote, eliza
beth Smith Miller appeared on the street
in short skirts and full Turkish trousers
She came on visit to her cousin. Eliza
beth Cady Stratton. who was then {
resident of Seneca Falls. Mrs. Miller
had been wearing the costume some two
months at home and abroad. just how
she came to adopt it / have forgotten
if ever / knew. But she wore it will
the full approval of her father and hus
band During her fathers term in con
gress she was in Washington and thu
papers of that city described her APP
pearance on the streets in the shor
costume.
"a few DAYS after Mrs. Miller's ar
rival in Seneca Falls Mrs. Stanton cam
out in dress made in Mrs. Miller
style. She walked our streets in a Skin
that came a little above the knees. AM
trousers of the same MATERIAL
saith. Having had part in the discus
sion of the dress question it seemed
proper that should practice as ! ha!
preached. as the Courier man advised
So few days later, !: too, donned tn
new costume and in the next issue o
my paper announced that fact to m,
readers. At the outset I had no ide
that my action would create the excite
ment and give to the style my name an
the credit due Mrs. Miller. That wa
all the work of the press. / stoo
amazed at the Juror I had caused"
Mrs. Bloomer goes on to say that tn
name "boomer" became attached t
the costume in spite of her efforts t
have the credit go to Mrs. Miller. "Ha
she Mrs Miller not come to us in. tha
stvle." she wrote. "it is not nrobahl
/ either Mrs. Stanton or myself woul
have donned it"-New York Herald.