Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-10-03

From the New york Es.hiit slS,
ECCENTRICITIEs OF FASHION,

Waiting one warn day last week hns
der the awning in front Of Hughes and
Guynet's splendid store, and looking at
the string OF carriages In front OF stew
arts Adrlances, aud, in short, the whole
range OF costly stores IN what our sturdy
knlckerbockors csll kutndt'on kow, IN
Broadway, we were struck with the con-
staut mutations Of fashion, aud the iu'
grating upon the present times the dress,
aud equipments, and manners OF many
centuries past, or rather the revival oil
the fashions of the olden times--tbs
long waists OF Queen Anne-the boards
and mustaches of Henri Quatre-ths
heads and figures familiar to iians Hol-
bein and Van Dyke. We are, 1t would
seem, upon wheel Of fashion, which ls
constantly in motion. 1t may, however,
bring US back many ages but we hard
iy think, with our present refinement, it
can carry US as far as our Saxon Snces-
tors. Let US look back upon some Of
the ancient customs, and SEQ how ihey
assimilate with present habits.
When julius Cesar invaded Britain,
he found It's inhabitants u rough race OF
shepherds, conteut with the necessaries,
and unacq quainted with the luxuries OF
life. Their diet was plain, THEN man
ners simple, their dress little more than
decency and the changeiuness OF their
climate rendered necessary. The skins
Of animals, sewn together with leathern
thongs, or the hbres OF vegetables, form
ed their dress-yery much IN the Robin.
son Crusoc fashion. But 1t is recorded
that, even then, the females did not lack
the vanity Of display, or the desire Tor
ornament. They wore necklaces OF
beads, and introduced wreaths OF Wild
flow ers in their long twisted hair. frl-
OF to The invasion, some OF them had ac-
quired a knowledge Of spinning and
weaving wool and flax. A long black
tunlc, reaching down to the ankles, aud
fastened with a girdle round the waist,
formed the state dress of the most NIGH
ty families in the Scilly isles. Ihe Ia-
dies, we may be sure, embeliishcd meT
attire for where was Woman without
the desire and the taste for ornameDtiDg
| her dress And the male exqulsltes oi
that place and time wore their boards
|, long, and (somewhat alter the Chinese
node) hanging down, like wings, at
each corner OF the mouth. In the main
Iland, however, the luxuries Of woollen
and linen garments were almost un-
known.
BY degrees, there naturally sprung
up among the early Briions and AngIo-
Saxons sort Of dandyism. The gen
temen threw aside their rude garments
I OF skins, aud donned loose robe, reacii-
ing to the ancie over that they fastened
long and flowing robe, fastened over
both shoulders by a clasp or buckle
which rested on the bosom. Their neAt
ste o was 10 line them with rich and beau
| IItitul turs, and decorate them with phy-
actery or border of gold or embroidery.
This was the dress OF the higher class.
! The soldiers end the commonality wore
tunes reaching only to the knee, ana
| short cloak pendant over the leIt shoui-
der and buckled on the right. 10 those
they sometimes put an edgmg OF gold.--
In these changes you will recognize the
Influence OF koman dress-the conquer
cd had donned the attire of the conquer.
ors. Conical caps, probably made OF
skin, were worn by all classes. The
n men had their hair long and flowing, ,and
Il (as have already named) they allowed
. the beard to grow TO a great length on
, the upper lip. When the Normans came
= over, and we're observed not 10 wear the
5 mustache, one OF Haroid's spies tauni-
ingly said, "These are not soldiers, but
d monks. =" When tho Normanspreva'led, D,
-Ilhcy compelled the Anglo -Saxons, most
reluctantly, to abandon their hirsute APP
lIpendapes. To lose their liberty was
lizard, but to lose their mustache was a
/, peculiar grievance Both sexes wore
massive chains and bracelets Of gold
around the neck and wrists, and large
a golden rings on the fingers. Barbarous
= as were these people, none oi them wore
C those ungraceIul things, miscalcd orna'
q ments, which--alter the example Of the
savages in the South Sea lslands-ludics
u Of the present day are compelled, by the
Imperial decree Of fashion, foolish and
luugraceful, to put into their ears. Yes
car rings are the adoption Of later times
oil wonder when fashion will demand
d that rings be worn in the nose also Z
am sure that one dis-adornnnent Is nc
worse than the other.
The attire of the Anglo-Saxon Iedie'
III must have been one of singular grace
and beauty. A long, loose robe, reach
= ing to the ground, made Of some valua
: ble material, and richly ornamented wnt
gold and embroidery, gave flowing
D. outline to the figure. The hair, uncon'
y fined by the trammels Of ar, waved upon
~ their shoulders, and, being turned back
r. fell down behind, without tying or braid
ID inp. yellow wtresses-the Iavorlte colour
of the ancient poets-were the Ton, ant
we know that, in Rome at least, the hue
was simulated by shedding gold dus
amid the hair.
In these times the men and women o
the upper rank wore slippers--a crosses
b. bandarc, which secured the slipper 4
y the foot. served the men in lieu Of stock
. inps but | fear that the ladies' wer
- stocking loss. Perhaps their feet wer
,e SO white that they lacked not the :" fo'
eipn aid of ornament" Where the fac
ID was beautiful, who would look ut 'h
sl....s I'D