Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-01-27
STATE DEMOCRAT.
Tn. Scarlet Pstt,coa. and the White.
Davenport, Jan ~, 1883.

Our lady readers-and we are glae
to know that they are counted bv tenn
ofthousands, of course all fair, amiablt
wise, tasteful and gracctul-will hardly
need to be told that the Queen of Eng
land has a very beautiful castle At Bal
moral, on the banks Of the DARK rolling
Dee, where she takes her pleasure ano
the Prince Consot shoots grouse il
August and September, ard from
whence certain Caledoman fashions
have lately been introduced by the
higher circles in England. 1t SO hap
pens that the Queen, when visiting
Balmoral, is always received by a sort
Of triumphal procession, the prettics,
episode in which is a bevy of Scottish
maldens and matrons wearing the scar
let pcttlcoat, withthe gown looped up
At the side, the hem Of the petticoa,
touching the ankle. The Queen has
adopted the fashion, and SO have many
Of the ladies' Of the Court. 1t has not
been lor2 in crossing the Atlantic,
and was first introduced at Washing
ton by Lady Gore Ousley, and has al
ready received the endorsement Of the
prcttiest promenaders in Broadway.
The scarlet petticoat, like all petit
coats, is a matter Of great interest,"
Some crusty old fellows might inquire
what we have to do with the ladies'
petticoats at all but we shall tell them
that the article has been in all ages a
most important weapon in politics,
war, diplomacy and inanciering.-
Where would have been the fame Of
Homer if Paris had not intcfcred in "A
pcttlcoat quarrel! Did not Mark
Anthony desert all his friends and allow
his party to go to the dogs while he
was flaming away his time under the
pcttlcoat reign of Cleopatra Was
not Nine. de Maintcon's petticoat the
chictcst peice Of state machinery in the
time Of the Grand Monarch Was
England ever more powerful than
when under the petticoat government
Of Elizabeth! A great many very
handsome petticoats she had, too being
somewhat inical in regard to the arti-
Gle. Where would have been the
great Duke Of Marlbough but for the
pctticoat influence of Sarah Churchill
Similar influences in our day led to
the downfall Of the first Napoleon the
early death of the second, and the sue
cess Of the third. And is it not grave
Iy urged that the expansion of the
crinollne and the imitation of the
hoped pctticoats helped to bring on
the commercial revulsion! Do we
not all remember the incident in Cali
iornla, where a party Of rough miners
who had passed many months without
the cheer OF woman's eyes, accidentally
discovered a red p%ctticoat, bald homage
to it, and oxtcmporizcd a triumphal
dance about it! Who can forget the
stout Connecticut matron who gave hel
single pettIcoat to- make wadding for
Revolutionary muskets Have not
AL the poets sung the praises Of the
pctticoat. Who does not remember
the lines of Sir John Sucking -
Her fact beneath her pstticoa',
like little micA stol1 in and out,
As II they feared the light.
And Byron, who says it is =
A garment Of much mystical sublsmity,
whether it b. Of rus,et, silk, or dimity.
But we will not multiply authorities.
We state the fact and If the Star
Spangled Banner ever fails to arouse
the valor of our heroes, let it be re-
placed by ~petticoat, like Beatrice's
hair-of any color that plcases heaven.
If General Walker had hoisted a scar
let petticort at Punta Arneas, Paulding
would have salutcd it, and saved a
great deal of fuss and many stupid
speeches in Congress.
The introduction Of the scarlet petit
coat then is important enough to have
a special record. 1t was on Saturday
afternoon in Broadway, when the
Foncurs were astonished and delighted
by two pretty momen wearing the
scarlet petticoat. Thestorm had ccas-
cd-the sun shone for the first time in
two davs-and the avenue was crowd
ell with ladies, who had come out for a
little fresh air. The heroincs in \
let had pretty feet and ankles, and
they tripped dainty along, holding
their gowns clear of the mud and wet
upon the pace. 1t was pretty, neat,
tasteful, piquaint and altogether dis
tractingly tempting. The scarlet pet
ticoat has it uses and will save many a
rich silk from ruin. 1t is too short to
drabble in the mud and a spot Of dirt
will hardly show upon it. The scarlet
pctticoat needs, though, a pretty foot
well shaped aukle, neat boots and
white stockings of purity above sus-
picion. So equipped the slayer ofmale
hearts may go forth conquering and to
conquer. Some of the p%etticoats are
made with stripes, which has a pretty
effect; and they arc all Of substantial
stuff, which will rot be blown about by
every wind, doctrinal or otherwise.
So We say success to the scarlet
petticoat for the street, the white for
the drawing room. Eugene gave IFS
the hoops; Victoria, who is not celc-
hratcd for her taste in dress, the scar
let p~etticoat. What a pity that some
American princess, just before her hus-
band breaks in business, cant invent
something nice to send them in RETURN!
Won't our friend Miss Flora M'Flimsey
try Do.-N. y. Herald.