New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-10-09
HOOPS.


ateastto have prel cserous conrvsnce Of their
The idea ives full OF womsns wit. But alas they
were caught in their snare; precious stoles were
proiusey displayed the bodies and skirts OF br)
cade gowns ard vanity soon discovered that the stiff
whaiebone framework under he upper skirt formed
al excellent show for family Jewels. The passion
for display thus graed the farthiDgae at once be-
came the darling Of Court costume and in it, original
shape Continued in feminine favor till the reign Of
Queen Anre, when i; underwent the modification
lately revived for us, the Hoop. In vain did TIE
Spectator lash and ridicule By turns the unnatural
enlightenment" in vain did grossest cGricatureS ap
pear and wits exhaust their invention in lsmpoons
and current epgrams in vain even the publication of
grave pamphlet entitled 1.-The Enormous Abomina-
ton Of the Hooppetlicost, the Fashion now is"
the mode, for immutable stands On the page of
folly an enduring monument TO feminine persstency.
Encouraged by the prolonged and undisputed sway
of the fsithingale, the hoop maintained an absolute
supremacy through the three succeeding regns though
often Undergoing changes which only served to make
1t more and more ridiculous The most Iudicrous of
theee alterations were the triangular shaped hoops
which, according TO The Spectator gave lady all
tie appearaIc of being in gO-car-end the "pocket
"hOops," which looked ike nothing much as pan
nieIs on the sides Of donkey-we mean the quadru-
ped. Quite funny incident lie related by Buwer
about the wife of an English ambassador TO Con.
stantinope in the time of James l. The lady, attended
by her serving women, all attired in farthin
gales, waited upon the Sutsna, who received them
with every show Of respect and hospitality. Son.
however the woman's curiosity got the better Of her
courtesy, and expressing her great surprise at the
monstrous development Of their hips, che asked if it
were possible that such could be the shape peculiar
TO the women of England. The English lady in reply
fastened to her that their forms in no wise diff
fered from of the Of ether countries and
carefully demonstrated TO her Higbness the construc
ton Of their Dress which alone bestowed the appear
aDce so puzzIng to her. There could scarcely be a
more wholesome satire upon the absurd fashion than
is conveyed in the simple recital of this well authent
Gated anecdote.
1t will be readily understood that at the outset the
English ladies had plausible excuse for adopting
this deformy; if they were betrayed into the perms
nent establishment Of it by the very pardonable in.
ducement of gratfed vanity, we may pity their
weakness but can scarcely condemn and in the proud
reign Of the hoops through period of unspairing d
cue we are quite forced to admire the unhinchng te
nacity with which they adhered to, much as we
may depore the perverted taste which could at any
time have consented to their introduction. But what
excuse can be offered, what paliating circumstance
advanced, to Justify revival Of that abomination by
the ladies Of the nineteenth century-not betrayed
into IFS adoption on the score of novelty, but delibe
rately dragging it out from the dusty past with all the
accumulated ridicule of ages clinging to its skirts
So far from sffordiDg the motive claimed by the
ladies of the olden time, Broadway beaux are
more tightly dressed than ever; it now becomes al
most necessity With them to procure manifestation
Il l.. has
trivance since their slender extremities are ooshy
concealed under the spreading cloud of companions
hoop. To see one Of these unfortunates escortng
fair dame of fashionable dimensions on either arm
himself baste for the rest Of the man is effectuay
suppressed-is one Of the most funny sights im-
aginable.
French paper gives an amusing account OF LADY
who went to a cathedral to "confess in hooped
pettcoa of course it necessary to enter the tiny
ssona and PROSTATE herself before the iron graf
ing between her and the priest. In vain did she
make vigorous efforts at the door to compress her
unyielding dress; it stouty refued, swelling like an
ar.bed in all sorts of udicrous unors at every new
endeavor until scarlet with confusion the lady turned
and hastily made her escape unshrved, with few
additional sins of mpatience, anger and wounded van
ity to enumerate on her return.
-
currence in which annoyance, notification and seri-
Gus sacrifices OF lady-ke selfpossesson, to say moth
ING of mode.ty, are experienced Let ladies have the
good sense the good taste to Danish the bunder from
their wardrobes.
Once upon time the ladies' by the inordnate hight
of their head dresses "towers, demanded the en-
lareement of the door-ways of dwellings, and even
those of public buildings when not OF stupendous
l. tba nrnn n
omnibuses cars and hacks would remember that his.
orca fact and in view Of the increasing size oil these
hoops. for when did such mode ever fail 10 run INTO
tie most prepos!erous extremes make corresponding
provision for the comfort Of the public. Space at the
theser or opera can with some sacrifice be procured
BY securing two seats for the occupation OF one lady
but stages, which must hold twelve inside, require
some enlargement or Inda-rubber contrivanee to ad'
NIT as well as contain the sex TO whose special accom-
mediation they profess to be devoted. Even now, IN
the infancy of the mode II requires the exercise OF all
the ealantry even an American gentleman can CON-
msnd TO support him in riding the length of Broadway
seated between the hoops of tro fairs which 10
the confusion of overwhelming him completely add
the sharper trial of batteng his patient members at
every Jolt of the vehicle Let hope that hoops can
never eet 10 be so great as the annoyance OF such
man nor 40 numerous =. his curses else we may well
fear ere long realize the horror OF the picture In al
old play: Five hours ago." says one OF the chsrac'
ters set dozen maids to attire boy ike nice
"gentlewoman; but there is such doing with their
docking glasses Pinning, unpinnipg setting unset
" ting; formiDgs and conformings; painting OF blue
veins and cheeks; such al stir with sticks, combs,
cascares, dressings purls, fall squares busks bod
ices scarfs necklaces carcanets rsbatoes borders,