BLOOMERS FOR THE STREET.

Western Star, Issue 1292, 27 February 1897, Page 1 (Supplement)

BLOOMERS FOR THE STREET.

The new woman appeared on Tweuty-third-street at noon yesterday, says a New York writer. She was not bold, 'but she was entirely self-possessed. She took a step forward of her sisters of the bicycle. She wore a pair of bloomers of checked cloth and leggings that extended to her shapely knees. From her shoulders a full cloak hung to the top of her leggings, and- on her head was perched a rakish fedora bat. When the wind blew aside the cloak, other women stopped and looked frightened and drew in their breath, and exclaimed : ««My good gracious.” Some of them said harsh things. This newest woman was Miss Dorothy Chestic, an English actress, who has lately arrived in this country. She is at the Hotel Peteler. Miss Chestio stopped at the shop windows, and all the other women looked* not at the windows, but at her. When she went into the sKops the gentlemanly floorwalkers were very much surprised, while the young woman behind the counter took a great inteuest in Miss Cbestic’s legs. When the storm broke other women gathered up their bedraggled skirts and ran for shelter. The observer then perceived that they wore no leggings. Miss Chestic, on the other hand, walked calmly along. Her hat and her cloak were waterproof and there were no petticoats to swish and swash in the rtfln.

I have long been an enthusiastic wheelwoman,” said-Miss Chestic to the reporter who called on her at her hotel, “ and it occurred to me that there would be no immodesty, but infinite utility in wearing bloomers on a rainy day. So I invented this costume in London, and after I wore it many women followed my example.