The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1924-05-13
FASHION CYCLE MAY
BRING BACK BLOOM Frs
NOW is AUSPICIOUS SEASON
FOR WOMEN TO TRY 1T AS
AN OUTER GARMENT.

Seventy three years ago Mrs. Anne
liza jerks Bloomer created furore in
America by wearing pantaloons in
public. Now new generation threat
ems 10 bring back the neither garment
named for its intrepid American spon-
sor, says the Milwaukee Journal.
In 1910 Dexter c. Bloomer gave his
name TO Amelia jerks, who was later
to give it to the pantaloons planned
and designed by one Elizabeth Smith
Miller. Mrs. Bloomer combined dress
reform with temperance and suffrage
advocacy. She appeared at public lee
lures in a costume consisting OF a
Jacket with close sleeves, a skirt tall
inc little below the knees and the
Turkish trousers gathered at the
ankles The entire garb became known
a the bloomcr dress but the panta-
lettes being the radical departure
from convention. came to bear alone
the name "bloomers.
History does not disclose that
America took the bloomer seriously
Milady's tickle changes in style have
never ruffled the American man to
any appreciable extent That may be
because he believes all radical styles
are but short-lived John Bull how
ever was greatly incensed over the
Importation OF Mrs. Boomers cos
tunes into his staid precincts. He tried
serious and sarcastic discussion but
they thrived withal.
Man had not. in that day begun to
take women's rights seriously. 1t was
probably due to this fact that bloom
ers were finally hooted down in the
SOS Nevertheless the bloomer re-
treated fighting. A sort OF compro-
mise was effected, which permitted
women to take over the British gentle
mems great coat, or "poletOt.'
Then. about the year 1897, came the
perfection OF bicycles. Men rode them;
children four years old learned to ride
yelocipedes At length the fair sex
braved the traditional ages-old mod
esty and did likewise Soon finding
the long skirts of that period cumber-
some. and the trcacherous chain jeop-
ardizing the woman riders dignity,
the bloomer long lying in ambush,
heard Mrs. Opportunity knock and
came forth to be reintroduced
Photographers trailed their prey
again and shot witty shafts artists
caricatured them. but, amid all the
squibbing, the insistent bloomer thirty
ed in every shape,
With the motor car the much abus
cd bloomer was again laid by Tor
spell
Now comes the question: Has the
lad cycle completed its revolution? Is
a surreptitious movement afoot to re-
turn the boomers to their former
status: In the gymnasium, be it
school. club or public, the bloomer is
acceptable. The bloOmer is part OF
milady's golf costume, hiking rig and
touring clothes 1t is being suggested
as a part OF the stenographer's bust
ness suit.
The bloomer is striding into sport
popularity. and IS mayhap, but a step
from general wear as an outer gar
ment. An analysis OF the situation al
fords this slant on the boomers pros
poets The style cycle has brought
back the bloomer; it is now seen dou-
bling in a new role as "pettibloomer,
besides playing extensively i'll sports
aheld and indoors; woman has the
power OF vote; she can either popular
ize the bloomer and make mere man
accept it smilingly or she can legislate
it into being with the eventually ac-
CURED weapon OF the reformer.