Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-11-28
Hoops.


termined if not successful, in shaming away the
absurdity altogether, at least TO have preposeT,
Ions cortrivauce of their own. The idea was full
of woman's wit. But alas! they were caught
lin their oyn snare; precious stones were prOtuse-
ly disulayed ON The bsdces and skirts of brecsde
Govns and vanity soon discovered that the stiff
whalehone framework under the upper skirt form
ed an excellent showcase fer family jewels. The
passion for display thus tar gratitied the aTihin-
gale at once became the darling OF Court costume,
and in its original shape continued IN feminine Ia
vor till the reign of Queen Anne, when 1t under
went the modification lately revived for US. the
boop. In vain did the Spectator lash and rdicule
by turns the ..unnaural disguisement;" in vain
did crosses, caricatures appear and wit, exhaust
their invent on in lanpoon and current epigfams /;
in vain even the publication OF grave pamphlet
entitled The Enormous Nomination of the
Hoon pitticoat as the Fashion now is )" the mode,
far once mnutabIe, stands on the page OF folly an
enduring monument to feminine persistency
Encouraged by the prolonged and undlspnted
sway of the farihngale, the honp maintained an
absolute supremacy through the three succeeding
regns, though often undergoing changes winch
only served to make it more and more ridiculous.
The most ridiculous Of these alterations were Inc
triangular shaped hoops, which according to the
Spectator, gave lady all the appearance OF
beinp in 90 cart and the pocket hoops which
looked like nothing 50 much as panners on the
sides of donkey-we mean The qnaaruped. -
Onte funny Incident is related by bulwer ABOUT
the wife Of an English Embassadur 10 Conslan'l-
nople in the time of James |. The lady alien
ded by her serving women, all atIlred IN enor-
NOUS farthingalcs. waited upon the Sullana VINO
received them with every show oil respec' anu
hospitality. Soon. however, the woman,s curos-
ity pot the better of courtesy and expressing hel
great surprise at the monstrous development u
their hips, she asked If it were possible Ihal sue"
could be the shape peculiar to the women OF f'ug
land. The lady In reply hasened to assure her 'ha'
their forms in no wise differed from those OF wo-
men oi other countries, and carefully oeInonssTa
ted to her ghness the construction of 'heir otess'
which alone bestowed the appearance SO puZI'ins
10 her. Their could scarcely be more whoie-
some satire upon the absurd fashion man Is con
yeyed in the simple recital Of this well authenl-
Gated anecdoie.
It will be readily understood that at the outset
The Enolish ladies' had plausible excuses tor a
dopting this deforHiity if they were betrayed IN
to the permanent establishment Of it by the very
pardunabe inducenent OF grahed VANITY we
NAV pity their weakness but can scarcely con
period of unsparng rid icule we are quite 'orceu
ls admire the unhnching tenaciIy with which
thew were adhered to, much as we may dePiofe
the perverted taste which could al any time nave
copssn,ed 10 their introduction. But what excuse
can bs offered, what palliating circumstance ad
vanced. 10 Justify a revival o! that abomnauon oy
the ladies of the nineteenth century-not oe,raJ
ed into lis adoption ON the Of nnvey but deli0-
.ratey dragging it out from The dusty past with
all the accumulated ridicue Of ages clnglng TO lis
skirts?
so t,- ,,o,, a1ording the motive claimed by the
ladies Of the oldtn time, our broadway 0e""N 81 sos
more tiuhtDy dressed than ever; it now cecv",
almost necessity with them to procure mani
festation of existence below the waist by some
,rnnl, hose coutriyance since their slender extrem
i,ies are foolishlv concealed under the spreading
cloud of companions hoop. Tosee one ol lscee
unfortunates escorliRg tair dame OF fashionable
,,ens;ous on .;;,.!hef aYm-hlmseit en- ouste, iof
the e res, Of the man is effeclaaly surpressed-''
one IF the most funny sights imaginable
A Frencb pap., gives an amusing account OF
,,d, who went 10 a cathedral 10 'coniess" IN a
honnsd na,,icoat Of course il was necessary 10
enter The ,iny confessional and pfo6tra'e he!Sel'
before the iron grating between her and the priest
,"in did she make vigorous Efforts at ihe d""'
~ connress her unwielding dress; 1t siou.iy re-
Gnssd swelling like an all. in all sorts oi iudn-
crons tumors. at every new endeayoI; nh''i Sc"'-
l., with confusion. the lady tuFned ana nas.'.y
made her escape unshrived, WIN 'e% "u":,'O's "
a;or of ;rnaljence. anger, and wounded Vah!y W
enulnerate on her return. Ie A.;
This i, only one instance in tnouSa"n % var
IL occurrence, in which annoyance Wo, u"''''o'' ,
and ssrOus sacrifices of lady-IiKe sen p,''''
sion. To say nothing OF nodes'y, are eNpe''r"e'u y.
q, ladies have the good sense, the good lss'e' ~
b,ni.b the blunder from their "ardropeS:
Once mon a time the ladies, by the lnordihaIe
beicht Of their head dresses or lowers uemia'u-
I'D Tho enlargement of the door ways OF dwellings,.
and oven those Of public buildings when not o'
,,uncndous dimensions, 1t would ne wen II 'ns
nronriel.rs of 0mnibuses, cars and iiachs "o".o -
prmber that historical fact, and III we" VI '''1
ncreasjnu size Of these hoops. (i"r "''e' o'u s"I"
mode ever fail 10 run into the most P'ePos'e'"u' w
%, remes make corresponding pfVV's'o" 'o '"o
comfor, of the public. Space az VIC '''I1o
oneta can with some sacrifice be pFocu'eu y
on ring two seats for the occupancy " ~ !
but STAGES, which must hold twe''e iie.u'''et
soue enlargement or india ruoner con'' ''oe y,
admit as well as contain the sex 10 ""'ee
accommodation they profess 10 oe oeVo':u. ~
now in the infancy oi The moue II ,et"';, 1,a,,
ercise of all the gallantry even an h!i''.1""
,lenan can command 10 support MIN ~ ''Ii"s '"1
'''"I' cI,,,,d,yav seated between the hoops ol
't"e " ,yiicb 10 The confusion ofoverwhelm
h;n, cnmple,ely add The sharper iria OF PAL
ny M len, members at every jolt OF ihe
,ah,el. ,ct us hope that hoops can never ge'
y, NV ~ r,.,i ,s the annoyance Of such man no'
-. nrr,erons ,s his curses, else we may wei ieai
s,e nng ia realize the horror OF the picture 10 Al
old play: Five hours ago., says one Vi "'e
b.r.cters 81 sci dozen maids 10 AZURE o"y
lilo =. nice genllewoman. but there Is sucn eoi"s
with their looking glasses, pinn'ng, unp'hn'"g;
seltuu. unselling; forInIngs anu co'''o' ''l"
a o.;a,;oa nf blue veins and cheeks; such SUI
,,;,h S,i.ks combs. coscanes, dressings, purIs' ia
,a,.ros huSks bodices, scari,, necklaces, carca
na,s r,botoes. borders, tires, fans, paIlsadoes
ma, rnfIs cuffs. muis pulses. iusles, parIleis
fa,o,s h.ndls,s flleis corsels. penduels, anu
ia's hr.c.lsts snnulels. and 50 many lets. (stop:
e L;ndr,nces that she is scarce dressed TO tht
D;rd,a And now there is such calling tor iardln
lies Er,les busk. points, shoe leS ANA 'he IKE
that seven pedd!ers' shops-nay, all otouror'ug'
jf,r-will scarcely furnish her. snip is sooa
.r rgoed by far Than genlic"oman maze
ready!" -
y EpsEp TooLs-We translate
tho following from German scientific journal 1O
he he ban.f, Of our mechanics and agricultural Ia
: 0'ssIs "Is has long been known that the simples
v 'he,.i"u INV, ,.atar 10 which has been added one
al noa of i,s weight of muriatic acid, theI
Inc j, off, and after few hours set 1t OF
ngns5 VIII 'Fbs acid here supplies the place Of
MILESTONE heua by corrodng the whole surface uni
S"niS e.Iv Sa that nothing further but smooth pol
ot oI' necessa,y. The process never injnres goo