94 RIDING DRESS. 



idea was a practical one, but I was by no means 

 satisfied with it, and I began to evolve a safety skirt 

 of my own. While I was experimenting with a pair 

 of scissors on an old skirt in w^hich a groom was seated 

 on a side-saddle, a habit maker sent me and asked me 

 to wear and recommend what he called a " perfectly- 

 fitting skirt." This awful thing had glove-like fingers, 

 which were made to fit the upper crutch and the leaping 

 head ! I hope no lady ever risked her neck in such a 

 death-trap as that. In puzzling out my safety skirt, I 

 desired to attain two objects, namely, absolute safety 

 in the saddle, and a decent covering for my limbs when 

 out of it, so that I might be able to dismount and walk 

 exposed to the gaze of men at any time or place, with- 

 out my dress, or rather want of it, being made the 

 subject of remark. I had a nice quiet horse, who 

 allowed me to thoroughly test my invention by falling 

 off his back in every conceivable direction, my husband 

 being present to prevent my voluntary fall from de- 

 generating into a "cropper." Mr. Tautz, the well- 

 known breeches maker of Oxford Street, witnessed 

 these acrobatic feats, and after we had all been perfectly 

 convinced of the absolute safety of the garment, he took 

 it on a royalty. My skirt has now been on the market 

 for several years, and I am glad to have this oppor- 

 tunity of thanking the numerous ladies who have 

 shewn their appreciation of it. Fig. 52 gives the 

 appearance of the " Hayes' Safety Skirt," when its 

 wearer is ready to mount. Fig. 53 shows the off side 

 when in the saddle, in Fig. 54 we see the side 



