I was browsing through a publication titled 100 YEARS by the Dallas Times Herald (1979) and came across an 11 lines “look back” info. inside a small, rectangular insertion and just had to grin! It was titled “Where was Women’s Lib?” Let me relate the basic story presented…..First presented was a statement about looking back at the early days of the 1900s and how POLICE in Dallas expected the clothing of women and men to be definite and different for each group and that they considered it must be a violation of legality for either to move into the realm of the other. This was so a part of the feelings of the day that 1908, November 25th, that there was an arrest executed at Turner Hall where a dance was being held, and a woman was arrested for causing a disturbance by being clothed a “man’s suit.” Taken to the court of Judge Mathis, the lady was fined $10.00 (a pretty large sum for a minor violation in those days). The charge was “MASQUERADING as a man!” Apparently, she was also charged with “drunk and disorderly,” but this was dismissed!
And I can’t resist relating another “rectangular enclosure” from the same publication, and it detailed an advertisement in The Daily Herald, when the population of Dallas was listed as “about 25,000,” and the “ladies” quite often spoke of a MRS. BENTON, who had a new and novel business that she advertised—but so far had not had much response. The ad said the following, “Ladies who are desirous of having their fingernails beautified for New Year’s should call on Mrs. Benton, the Manicure, at the PUBLIC LIBRARY.” O. K.—one more! This one was called “No crossings for the cows,” and went back to 1886 and mentioned their Municipal problems….. one was “taken up” at an October 11 meeting of the City Council. The topic: “railway gradings.” This information was brought up and addressed: GRADINGS on Preston Street for the Dallas Street Railway Crossings were too high! After the Council had been told of the issue, they informed the Daily Herald that “places were left that cows could not cross over, and the people are ‘up in arms.’” **Again, a big “THANK YOU” to the Brown Family and “Rabbit Hut Sports” for contributing a “cache” of memories (such as the above history) to the Spellman Museum of Forney History and to me.— Themer**
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.