AT A "BLOOMER” BALL

Western Star, Issue 2218, 1 July 1898, Page 6

AT A "BLOOMER” BALL

“It was my good fortune to attend the first ‘ bloomer ’ dance given in New York,” says a writer in an American contemporary. Like other affairs of the kind, it was strictly understood that all dancers must wear 1 bloomers ’ or knickerbockers. I was not n, dancer— simply a privileged onlooker—and was permitted to sit behind the orchestra, clad in the conventional habiliments of womanhood Before nine o’clock the dancers began to arrive. Nine-tenths of them came on bicycles ; a few who lived in the neighbourhood came on foot, while one gilded youth and bis fair companion drove up in a hansom, to the audible amusement of the others. A Mixed Gathering. “ It was a difficult matter at first to gain an idea of the stations in life of the dancers. The men represented many classes —clerks, wouldbe swells, a few other genuine article, prosperous business men, others whose faces are familiar in tile betting-ring of the big racetracks, some happy-go-lucky chaps from the financial dsitrief, and three or four well-known in the political arena. The women represented almost as many classes. The wives of a few of the men were there, also half a dozen daughters. There were two or three mediocre lights of the theatrical world, many typewriters, telegraphists, and wage-earners generally. Taken collectively, it was a fairly respectable gathering. The Belle of the Evening.

“ Coming dow'ii to individuals, t lie girl who came in the hansom was clearly the belle of the evening, and her costume had as much to do with her success as anything else, it was startling. That, perhaps, is the reason that she did not wish to trust it before the criticising gaze of the outside world. The ‘ bloomers ’ were made of black broadcloth, fastened above the knee. They were more graceful than are the average ‘ bloomers ’ but the masterpiece of the costume was the leggings. These wore of white kid, and fitted the leg as snugly as a kid glove fits the hand. A row of white buttons extending from the ankle to the knee were fasteners, and it must have taken a deal one to get the buttons through the b’*' of t,me even wfcih the aid ol ft most attoi. Ii •> White kid shoes, a white ai>* -Proved hook, black satin four-in-hand ' A " a ' s *‘* aui * a l° n o' lit. The young Je - cie completed the outbrown hair and » lla,, !1 face ’ ,larl ‘- joyed the v •»«>"“ eyes. She evidently ennpon he- nsation and the attention showered

A 200-Fouuder’s Costume,

“ There was another costume wl.ich rivalled the black aucl white affair. It was worn by a Urge, heavy woman, who was nearer 40 than 30, and who weighed nearly 200 lb. She had on a blue cloth suit, the jacket or coat reaching to the hips, while the lower garments were fashioned on the knickeibocker plan, and literally outlined their contents. They fastened below the knee. The snug-fitting leggings were bine in colour, while the low shoes were a deep red.' A scarlet waistcoat, cut low and exposing a glistening shirt front, gave a luminous dash of colour to this dancer. She wore a high collar, a blue cravat, and cuffs, o namented with diamond buttons.

How Mother and Daughter Dressed. “ One woman, who was attended by both her daughter and her husband, had on a pair of black satin “ bloomers ” made very full, and which flapped about in ludicrous fashion during the square dances. The daughter, a pretty, slim girl, with light hair and brown eyes, evidently had her own ideas about what constituted the proper costume. It was made of russet, brown corduroy, the * bloomers ’ of medium dimensions, and a coat with flaring skirts, and leggings and shoes of the same colour. The Utstraining “ Bloomer.”

“ There were but a dozen numbers on the dancing-curd, and before midnight the last one was over. No unseemly levily marked the night, in fact, the ever-present ' bloomer ’ seemed to act as a restraint. When the young women sat down after a dance, one and all tucked their feet as far under the chairs as they possibly could, thus reducing to a minimum the exposure of leggings. The only exceptions were the two women in the startling costumes. They took advantage of the clear floor to promenade their glories before the gaze of the others.