Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-09-26
II 7 Il r. Y .
From the New York Evening Star.
ECCENTRICITIES OF FASHION

Waiting one warm day last week under the aw.
ming in front Of Hughes and Guynet's splendid store,
and look ing at the string of carriages in front Of
Stewards, Advances, and in short, the whole range
oil costly stores In what our sturdy knickerbocker
cell Rutnatsoa Row, In Broadway, we were struck
With the constant mutations of fashion, and the in
grating upon the present times the dress, and equip.
ments, and manners of many centuries past, or ra-
Their the revival of the fashions of the olden times
the long waists of Queen Anne-the boards and
mustachios of Henri Quatre-the heads and fg.
ures familiar to Hans Holbein and Van DYKE
We are, it would seem, upon a wheel Of fashion,
which is constantly in motion. 1t may, however,
bring us back many ages; but we hardly think,
with our present refinement, it can carry as far as
our Saxon ancestors. Let us look back upon some
oil the ancient customs, and see how they assimi-
late with the present habits.
When julius Caesar invaded Britain he found its
Inhabitants a rough race of shepherds, content with
the necessaTies, and unacquainted with the Injuries
of life. Their diet was plain, their manners SIM
pie, their dress little more than decency and the
chaDgefulness of their climate rendered necessary.
The skins Of animals sewn together with leathern
thongs, or the fbres of vegetables, formed their
dress-very much in the Robinson Crusoe fashion.
But il is recorded that, even then, the females did
not lack the vanity of display, or the desire for or
nament. They wore necklaces of beads, and in
troduced wreaths of wild flowers in their long,
twisted hair. Prior TO the invasion, some Of them
had acquired IA knowledge Of spinning and weaving
wool and flax. A long black tunic, reaching down
to the ANGLES, and fastened with a girdle round the
waist, formed the state dress of the most mighty
families in the Sicily isles. The ladies, we NAV be
sure, embellished their attirei for where was Wo.
man without the desire and taste for ornamenting
her dressf-and the ieale exquisites Of that place
and time wore their boards long, and, somewhat
after the Chinese mode) hanging down, like wings,
at each corner OF the mouth. la the mainland,
however, the luxuries Of wooden and linen garments
we're almost unknown.
BY degrees, there naturally sprung up among the
early Britons and Anglo Saxons, a sort Of dandy
ism. The gentlemen threw aside their rude gar
ments of skins, and donned a loose robe, reaching to
the ANGLE over that they fastened a long and low-
ing robe, fastened, over both shoulders, by a clasp
or buckle which rested on the bosom. Their next
step was to line them with rich and beautiful furs,
and decorate them with a philsctery or border of
gold or embroidery. Thiswas the dress Of the high
er class. The soldiers and the commonalty wore
tunics reaching only to the knee, and short cloaks
pendant over The left shoulder and buckled on the
right. To these they sometimes put an edging of
gold. In these changes, you will recognize the in
huence Of Roman dress-the conquered had dom
ned the attire Of the conquerers. Conical caps,
probably made Of skins, were worn by all classes.
The men had their hair long and flowing, and (as
| have alrsad, namely they allowed the beard to
grow TO a great length on the upper lip. When the
NoImsns came over, and were observed not to wear
the moustache, one Of Harold's spies tauntingly
said, These are not soldiers, but monks" When
the Norrnans prevailed they compelled the Anglo
Saxons, most reluctantly, 10 abandon their hlrsute
appendages. To lose their liberty was hard, but
70 lose their moustache was a peculiar grievance f.
Both sexes wore massive chains and bracelets Of
gold, around the neeks and wrists, aad large gold