The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-03-28
Interesting to Ladies.

word crinoline' This is qustion that has
been asked many times of late, but we be-
lieve the answers generally have been any,
thing but satisfactory to the fair questioners
The same question has been asked the Ece-
ming Post, and is answered as follows:
Before answering the question, we must
protest against the imputation of having spo-
ken, or desired to speak lightly, OF the gar
ment TO which she refers. A petticoat is too
serious thing for jest. We proceed to
/ explain the term crnoline with all the gray
ity which the subject demands.
The term crinoline is derived from the Lat
in word crinis, which means the hair of the
head. This word in the French language
becomes erin, and is generally applied to
horse hair. In colloquial Latin, or the Latin
of the Lower Empire, crinis might naturally
pass into the diminutive crinola, and from
this We easily form the term crnoline, to sig
nifty fabric woven of hair-a finer and more
dainty tissue than the common haircloth
called by the French cVice
| The custom of making this fabric of hair a
part of the dress of women, is said to have
arisen in this wise
Everybody knows that from very ancient
times the habit of wearing haircloth next to
the person has been frequent among relis sious
penitents and others who desired to subdue
the animal appetites or control the natural
propensity to sef-indul gence and luxury.
The harshness of the material which con-
stantlv made itself felt, reminded the peni-
tent of past offences, and the ascetic Of his
duty. There are examples Of persons who
have worn the hair-shirt all their lives from
the time they assumed it. 1t is said that a
certain il!ustrious penitent was ordered by
her contessor to wear an under-garment of
hair-cloth. As she could see no congruity
between piety and dirt, her notions of clean-
illness obliged her to place between the hair
cloth and her person something that could
be washed she therefore gave the prescri-
bed material the form of a petficoat, an in
genious manufacturer having un1artaken to
supply fabric that in smoothness and beau
ty of texture should be far superior to the
haircloth worn by monks and nuns. Thus
was woven the first piece Of crnolinc, and
thus it became the material of lady's under
garment.
The legend proceeds to relate that, as the
examples set by distinguished persons in
dress are followed by the rest of the world,
and thus become fashions, the use of crino-
line was adopted by all who wished to recon-
mend themselves to the illustrioas lady al
ready mentioned, and finally passed into
general use. AT first the petticoat construct
ed of this material was of very modest 1imen-
sions. 1t was the flower in its bud; but in
process of time it gradually unfolded and ex-
panded like cabbage rose until at length it
attained the magnificent full blown circum-
ference which is now given to it, and in the
midst Of which the lady stands entrenched
like the kernel of cocoa nut. Such is the
tradition; but we must regard it like other
legends, and cannot assure our correspondent
of its absolute historical accuracy.
A friend of ours who thinks that there is
great deal of truth in what the world calls
the superstition Of past ages, has little doubt
that this phenomenon of the inroad made by
haircloth into our female costume portended
the bloody Crimean war, and is almost posi-
tive that it foreboded the present epidemic at
Washington and the decision of the Supreme
Court in the case of Dred Scott, which has
Sc: the country in a blaze. These are points
on which we offer no opinion and the latter
of them, owing to its complication with our
domestic politics, is an extremely delicate
subject. Our hope is that what we have said
has thrown some light on the question propo
sed to us by our fair correspondent
SPRING BONNETs.-Bonnets are worn
much more spread upon the forehead, which
seems to have altered the shape so, that they
appear larger to the eye, while in reality
they are quite as short in the passe as ever.
Feathers en- touGe and flowers en- JOtte adorn
both the outside of the passe and the cap
worn on the inside. A novel fashion has
been adopted by several ladie, of ton. 1t
consists in the replacing the inner cap of
white blonde by a broad rouleau of velvet,
either black or colored, which, Terminating
in large knot on the left side, and long
ends reaching to the neck, is exceedingly be-
coming and infinitely more youthful than the
stiff futing Of the blonde dessous worn so
long.-Home Journal.
IRISH MEAsURE.-Mick Casey used to
'tind' in Carew's grocery store on the corn
er. Smlth-you know Smith went in the