Mrs. Sage And Bloomers

Mrs. Russel Sage has pronounced for blcomers, says the Boston Herald, not only for bicycle use, but for vear genl erally. She thinks that wouian needs a street or walking dress which can te worn on every outdoor occasion, and a dress tnat must do away with long skirts and petticoats. "If," she says, "woman will follow the pursuits of man she must have a practical costume. She can not wait to grasp her skirts if she must catch hold of a particular railing to leave a street car. She can not gei on a chair to wind the clock without danger from her skirts." She can not see how a woman should think c.f riding a bicycle without wearing bloomers. The conventional woman dross should only be kept for the opera, the dinner party, the club luncheon, and such other occasions, and should be for women what the clawhammer attire is for men. She thinks that the knell of the long skirts, which she characterizes as dangerous as well as inconvenient, has sounded, but she adds that "women can only afford to sacrifice the grace of the skirts at the altar of necessity." But why all this arguing, and why not adopt bloomers Incontinently? The principal opposition with which they met has been from the comic papers and the newspaper paragrapher, and poor, persecuted woman has survived all the fun they poked at bangs. at hoopskirts, at big hats and their hearse-like, tall ostrich plumes, and at all the other fashions that have, from time to time, been so dear to femininity. Let those who covet bloomers for everyday wear don them without more ado, and thus show the courage of their 3onvictions. The chances are, however, that an overwhelming majority of the sex can not bring themselves 'to remain indifferent to the plates in the fashion periodicals and to the charm which a pretty, well-fltting, and tasteful gown exercises over every susceptible and admiring he thing.