TROUSERED WOMEN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3176, 23 March 1911, Page 3

TROUSERED WOMEN.

FAVORED AT WARRNAMBOOL. UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT, i MELBOURNE, March 22. The W-airnarnbco-l branch of the Australian- Women’s Union- has declared in favor of the ha-remi skirt. AN EXHIBITION IN ADELAIDE. (Received March 22, 9.30 p.m.) „ ADELAIDE/ March 22. The police had to move a large crowd blocking the street in front of a leading firm’s window, where two masked women were appearing in harem skirts. THE HARE M SKIRT IN SYDNEY. A PARADE IN THE CITY. Sydlney viewed the harem skirts in its principal city streets the other morning, and it declared, says the “Sun”’ with almost united voice that it didn’t like them. It was not- because they were structually objectionable that they were derided. There is nothing about- them after all' that anyone could complain of —at least so far as the example displayed this morning are concernedbut they are too revolutionary to meet with public approval at once. The two young women who were courageous enough to weather the storm of public- opinion by,appearing in these gowns) were in danger of being _ passed by unnoticed when they took their place amongst the pedestrians in the city. The dresses, which were designed by Messrs Grace Bros, were rather modest examples of the new fashion. They were paiitalooned, of course, but the skirt i was so long and so cut that the trouser ends could not he seen unless from a side view. There were men guarding the ladies in preparation for a recurrence of the scenes with which the skirt was associated on the Continent and in America, and the party had walked a hundred yards or two before a gi'oup of girls saw the change of attire. Then there were murmurs from the throng, “Harem,” “Harem,” and some giggling. Everyone round heard, and the cry became “Harem-!’’ “Harem!” right along the street, until the crowd on the footpath pulled up and allowed the venturesome women and’ men to pass, while a big body of men, hoys, and girls followed them about commenting. “Oh! ho!” exclaimed an . old, clean-shaven man, who was stretching out of a tram to see what was agitating the public mind. Then, when lie saw what it was, he remarked rather dolefully, “Is that- all?’’ The general belief was that the “harem” was not quite spectacular enough. The word “harem” is associated with the elaborate, and the crowd wanted something more than what- they got. The costumes were of a blue serge cloth with black embroidering_and insertion. What the crowd was anxious to sec was a costume of red and yellow, or equally vivid color —soft, flimsy stuff, that' would look more like a bath-gown than a smartly-cut and fashionable walkmgdress. in the absence of that- they were merely curious, and easily satisfied. They commented quietly; said very little close enough for the party to hear, didn’t call out- anything to make the ladies blush, and, indeed, in front of the G.P.0., when they climbed into a taxi-cab to drive away, cries of “Bravo, girls,” and a round of cheers, were sent after them. The harem-skirted women were interviewed by a “Sun” reporter at the close of their parade. They were cordial in their approval of the dress. “I can see nothing objectionable about them,” said one. “Why, 1 regard them as the most comfortable dress I was ever in. I am quite prepared to continue wearing them.” “Doi you like them -better than the hobble?”

“Oil, yes,” replied the young woman. •‘‘They are easier to walk in. And do you really think that they are any worse than Canadian costumes at Manly?” “What do yon think yourself?’" “Really I don’t. I would not wear a surf-bathing costume, and it’s not because I’m afraid of the figure I’d cut,” she added, rather proudly surveying herself in a neighbouring glass. “I think the dress will become popular. I enjoyed the morning very much. 1 expected that we would be mobbed. The people did such dreadful things in Melbourne and Paris and' America that I was afraid. But the people in Sydney were just lovely. They were interested, of course, and I was proud to think that a little' girl like me could cause such a fuss. No rude men made comments, and for .my part I can see no reason why they should.”