The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1822-08-28
FROM THE BOSTON GAZETTE.
"Reminiscences.

DhEss, &c.-Seven,y yeaIs ago, cooked
hats, wigs, aud Led coats were the usual dfcss
OF gent!rmen.--Boo,s were rarely seen ex
cept among military men. Shoe suings
we're WON Only by those VINO could not bay
any sort oil Buckles. In winter round coats
were used, made stiff with buckcam they
came down to the knees IN front.
Before the Revolution, Boys wore wigs
and cooked bals--snd boy, VI genteel ismi
lies wore cooked has til wuhin about Thirty
years
BAH dtess for gentle c,en was silk coats aud
bfeeches OF the same, and embroidered waist.
coaH; sometimes wniie satini b'eeches.
Buckles were fashionable tiil within Il or 30
yeats--and a man could no, have renamed M
a ballroom with shoe strings. Ii was usual
Tor the bride, brideg DOM, maids and men at.
tending, to SO 10 chuIcn together, three sue
| cessive Sundays alter the wedding, with
| change OF dfess each day. Agenleman wno
deceased not isng siOce, appeared the first
Sunday in white road c!otii--lhe second IN
blue sod goid--,he ,h,'d IN peach bloom and
| peasi buttons. IL Was a custom TO hsns the
escutcheon OF a deceased head of family out
OF the window over the front door, from the
the time OF his decease, uni,, the funeral
The last instance which is rene smbered OF
| his, Wa, IN ,he case OF Governor Hancock's
oncie, 1894. Copies OF the escutcheon paint
ed on black silk were mote ancientiy disti
buted among the pall-bea,crs--tInss of5cr-
wards-snd unlil within few years, gloves.
Dr.. A. Elliott had mug full of elng., which
were presented 10 him at funerals. Till with
IN about 20 yea'., gen'le@An Wore powder,
and many of them Sat from so 10 20 miOu,es
undc' the BARRIERS hands TO have their hair
sped--sufeiing no iocon siderable PAIN ON
hal, pulling, and sometimes from the ho'
curling tongs. Grape cushions and hoops
were indispensable in full dess, ill within a
boui thirty years. Sometimes the ladies' were
dressed The day before the party, and slept 10
easy chairs to keep their hair in fit condit.
ion for the following night. Most ladies'
went to parties on foot, if they could not get
scat 10 friends csrriage or chaise. Gentle.
men rarely bad chance to ride.
The latest dinner hour was two o'clock
some officers OF the colonial government din
ed later occasionally. la seoteei families,
ladies went TO drink lca about o'clock: aod
rarey staid after candle light IN summer. II
was the fashion for ladies to propose 10 visit
nol to be sen, Tor
A couple of young ladies having buried
their father, who was an old humoist. and
had such an aversion 10 mat imony, that he
would not allow them TO msrry, however sd.
vanlsgeous nigh, be the of'sr, convefs,ng on
his character the eldest observed, "he is dead
at last, aod now We will marry" "WeIl,"
,sid the youngest I" am for 'ich husband,
aud Ma. &. shall be my man." Hold sister,"
said the other, "don't let us be too has,y in
The choice Of our husbands, let Us marry those
whom the powers above have destined for US;
tor our marriages ave registered IN heavens
book" al sm sorry foe that" replied the
youngest, " for am afraid father will tear
out the leaf"