Life — September 22, 1910 — page 9: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Y petticoat, my petticoat, That lies demurely there, With all thy frilled exuberance Cascading o'er a chair, Fret not to drape thy mistress’ form At this year’s ball or route, For fashion’s fiat has gone forth And petticoats are “ out.” When I assume the mermaid garb That modish law decrees, (That snugly hugs the human hip And clings below the knees), A Fatile Farewell Thou find’st thyself, my petticoat, In much the same sad case As manuscript sent back by mail— “ Refused for lack of space Thou near and dear from early years, I cannot bear to see My rdrobe or my walk in life Close in, despoiled of thee. Thou art a primal female fact, The symbol of the sex: WHEN THE LEAVES ARE GONE The dateless, voteless government To which men bow their necks, They tempted me, my petticoat, For fashion’s power is strong, But I'd catch cold, I know I would, And too much cling is wrong. Who said that I had given thee up? Who said thou wert displaced? Nay, with remorseful tenderness I bind thee round my wa’st! Katharine Perry : 1 WONDER WHAT 1'M GOING TO DO ABOUT CLOTHES THIS FALL.