It's a pretty good trick film for 1901, and in that year the joke would have been mildly bawdy and heartfelt. Victorian priggishness was near its height, although weakened a touch by the raciness of the Gay '90s.... what with women on bicycles and showing their ankles in an era when women knitted little booties to put on piano legs, which were called 'limbs' because the three-letter word was even worse than the four-letter one. Add in the exaggerated form that the bustle is gave to women's forms, and something had to give.
Good thing that Aunt Sallie's bustle was made of rubber. That prevents all sorts of accidents, even today.
Good thing that Aunt Sallie's bustle was made of rubber. That prevents all sorts of accidents, even today.