The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-09-18

ded with gems. Their "nethef man" was
alfred in fine cloth. sometimes very costly.
Long toed shoes, which came In with VIII
liam Rufus, were denounced from the pulpit
as unnatural.
The Queen and other fashionables Of the
Angio-Normans, wore loose gowns, trailing
on the ground, and lighiened round the waist
with girdle, from which was suspended .
large purse or pouch--the ancestor, pre-
sumo OF the modern reticule. Married wo-
men had an additional robe over the gown,
hanging down before like a priests dress.
II has been ascertained that the umbrella was
IN use as early as the reign Of King Ste-
phen.
Compared with the Saxons and Danes,t
Normans possessed temperance itself The
hngio-Saxons.h had four meals day, the Nor
mans only f,oo. sort Of chivalric hospitali-
~ distinguished the Normans. They loved
the fair sex To adoration-almost The de-
sire TO look well in the eyes Of fair danes
made their dress aud manners become rather
efeminate, but they preserved their daring
strength. The Crusaders contributed to in
trodnce articles Of Asiatic luxury among them,
and the desire for splendor and dress greatly
increased.
Putting on a wedding ring appears to have
been Norman addition to the bridal ceremo-
ny. Henry Beauclere restrained matrimony
70 the seventh degree of consequently, and
deprived the widow who should die within
twelve months after her husbands death, Of
all advantage from any possessions or wealth
he might inherit from him--this law however
was set aside by Magma Gharta.
The funerals ofsthe Anglo Normans were
magnificent. Matthew Paris says that the
body Of Henry II was dressed in the royal
robes, golden crownon the head, and shoes
wrought with gems on the feet. In this man
ner it was exhibited to the people. II was
Archbishop Langfranc who, in 1918, rebuild
ing the Cathedral Of Canterbury, introduced
the practice Of burying the dead near the high
altar.
During the 18th. and two following centu-
ries, manners improved. There was an at
tempt at the drama, and minstrely was com
mon. Every noble family had glee-man,
who,
-Courted and caressed,
High placed in state welcome guest,
Poured out TO lord aud lady gay,
His unprecedented lay.
The Athletic sports grew in vogue. In the
18th century cards were introduced, for in
1885, statute was passed on behalf Of the
London cardmakers, prohibiting the importa-
ton of playing cards from France.
Feasting grew so lavish that Edward iii.
found il necessary to restrain the cost by
laws. Yet when his own son,
Lionel of Clarence, married Violentis Of Mi
Ian, there were 80 courses, and thousand
people sat down to table.
In the 9th and 18th centuries, the dress Of
both sexes became extremely absurd. As
usually happens, the ladies' succeeded in out
stripping the gentlemen in all expensive vani-
ties of attire. They were dressed in party
colored tunics-one half being Of one color,
and the other half Of another. They wore
ludicrously short tippets, and remarkably
small caps, fastened on with cords. They
had girdles ornamented with gold and silver
and short swords--as If they were stunted
into daggers--hung right in front Such were
the lades-the fine gentlemen were nearly as
DR.. Henry. the historian, says,
pearance tfaha ssfBagI ahat O. mera taa,as!ieal aR=
He wore long pointed shoes, fastened to his
knee by gold and silver chains hose Of one
color on the one leg and Of another color on
the other; tight short brooches, which did not
reach to the middle Of his thighs; a coat, the
one half white, the other half black or blue;
long beard; silk hood buttoned under his
chin, embroidered with grotesque figures Of
animals, dancing men, &c. and sometimes
ornamented with gold and precious stones"
This was ludicrous enough-yet such was the
top Of the mode in the time of Edward ILL.,
The long-toed shoes we're sometimes cut at
the top in shape Of a church window!
Yet, absurd as this was, the 18th century
carried dress TO pitch Of folly beyond this.
Jackets were worn SO short that, in 1863,
here was actually passed statute ordering
them to be worn certain and decent length
behind. The former follies were continued,
with variations, for the beaux of that time
wore q boot on one leg and stocking on the
other In winter was added large mantle,
with what were called side and long sleeves,
which hung down to the ground, and--as
poet Of thar day said-licked up the dirt Of
the streets, whether they we're wet or dry
The borders of this habit we're frequently en-
oroidered with verses Of laiin,hy or psalms
in gold, and the garment itself was often Of
red silk, broidered with white.
The females dresses likewise increased in
absurdity. The principal follies came from
France. The head dresses in particular, were
so Immediately high and broad, that when
Isabel Of Bavaria kept her court at Versailles,
The doors of all the state apartments were
raised and widened that the Queen and her
ladies' might have room to enter. The fabric
was supported by horn on each side, and
from the top Of each was suspended a siken
streamer, which sometimes futtered in the
wind, and sometimes crossed the breast and
was tied to the arm. However, while we
call these fashions absurd and ridiculous, let
US not forget that our own may appear equally
so to the natives Of other lands. Bring ''some
soft savage" from newly discovered country,
and place her in Broadway during the fashion,
ahe hours in the fashionable season. and she