The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-07-17

the Springs, the present season :--nnd
one Of them scandalizes the sex by talk
ing Of false hair, otto Of roses, rouge,
cheek-plumpers, musk, chicken-skin,
gloves, false eyebrows, antique oil, &c.
The celebrated DR.. Caustick, who edits
a paper in Vermont, has lately given the
alarm about fight pantaloons-and it is
understood, that the ancient and honour
able families ofthe Sheepshanks, Spin
dleshanks, Bandy-legs, Knock-knees,
Bow-legs, aud Sharp-shins, &c. of that
patriotick State, at once took arms a
gainst the innovation. Now we have
heard of no such change in this goodIy
metropolis; on the contrary, we proba-
bly, should not have attempted to amuse
the publck with this article, had not our
tailors sent us home a pair of white drill
ling pantaloons of large dimensions, with
an extra yard thrown into petticoat Plalts
about the hips. In Charleston, we learn
from the s'right merrie" and facetious
Editor Of ,he Courier, the bedH monde
have given the sedate citizens another
cause of alarm, by Introducing indecent
curtailed apologies for coats, with short
jackets to correspond.
This freak of fashion has not yet made
its appearance in Newly ork, nor do we
much fear twill. fit should, however,
we reComend, as would be well in all ca
ses, mean between extremes. For our
selves, we wish to" be neither ridiculous
ly in, nor extIavagantly out of the fash
ion." We should therefore equally dislike
coats So long wasted that the pockets
come down TO the knees, or so short as
TO require ladder to come up 10 them.
Nor would we have our garments as
tight as the manner of some is; as we a.
gree fully with our friend DR.. Caustick,
that to pinch and pinion rational and
innocent body, being in the peace of the
United States, is contrary 10 the impre-
scriptible rights of freemen, which guar
antee the uninterrupted enjoyment of
limbs, as we'll as life, liberty and proper
ty.
But afer all, as we have said above,
fashion will have its way. We are not
very old but the changes we have wit
messed, are surprisingly numerous, and
almost incredible. Within thirty years,
we have seen the fashionGble'S head with
curls as stiff as if cut in marble. He has
had high fore-top, and low fore-toP
he has worn a cue aud club-has had
his hair tied close up, and tied low down
powdered and friZzied-and last of all
Saunderized. Whiskers, or mustacheos,
as they are now called, have been sha-
we'd away up to the temples, and again
suffered to grow half over the face
Goats have been long skirted, middling
skirted, short skirtei, and sometimes with
no skirts at all--at one time hanging as
loose as waggoner's frock, and at a.
mother made tight to the shape, and cut
away like the wings of game cock
His boots and shoes have been as change
able as the season He has worn Ger
man boots, and hussar boots. and Suwar-
row boots half up the thigh, and We'll
lington boots half way down his leg
His shoes have been high quartered, low
quartered, round toed, sharp toed, square
toed, and round toed again, with high
heels, low heels, wooden heels, donkey
heels, cork heels, and no heels at ALL
His buckles not larger than an alder
mans ring, and again larger than the
largest in coach harness; buckles of
silver, gold, steel and iron, round, oval
square, obIong, heart-shaped and TRAN
gular. In short, we have seen fashiona-
bes with long rufIles, short rulfles, and
no ruiles; with large hats, small hats,
round hats, and oval hats long waists
and short waists, &c. &c. sc. to the end
Of the chapter.