Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-09-25
About Stockings, Gloves Ruffs, &c.

We gave some facts says the, Boston Her
aid, few days since, relative to the fashions
that prevailed in old times, gathered from
an article in the New England Historical
Register, for 1852. From the same source
the following interesting matters, pertaining
TO the ancient customs and usages with re-
spect to stockings, gloves, etc, are also col
| lected.
Stockings we're nncieutly made Of cloth or
mled stuIs, sewed together. Henry II, of
! France was the first who appeared with silk
stockings. That was in 1853, and in l5Gl
! Queen Elizabeth was presented by her mill
! liner with a pair The first pair of worsted
stockings knit in England were made in 1864.
| Red-colored stockings, where iyarn worst
ed or silk, were much worn in New England
for nearly half century after the arrival OF
our fathers.
Iu 1929, when provision was made for emf
grants to Massachusetts, the stockings iur
nished were accompanied with ten dozen pairs
of Norwich garters. At an early period OF
our country silk garters were worn by the
more fashionable, and pulled into large bow
! knot at the knee, but as the custom fell under
the notice of the civil authorities, it was forth
with prohibited.
Cloyeg have been long in use and it was
once proyerb that to be wei! made, three
/ Kingdoms must be concerned in the making
| Spain 10 dress the leather, France TO cut it,
and England to sew it. But France, for a
considerable period, is said to have had the
preference in all these three respects.
! Sixty years ago, pallholders, aud other
, PERSONS attending iunerals wore v hite leather
| gloves. In al men and women's white
glazed lamb" gloves were offered for sale in
! Boston.
RuGs, however odd it may appear to u.s.
were formerly worn by males as well as fe-
males Queen Elizabeth appointed officers it
is related, to clip the ruff Of every person
seen wearing it Of larger dimensions than the
law permitted. y clergyman in lG0S took
occasion to alude to lady who wore ruff
that looked like sail yea like rainbow
Ruils were wired as well US starched. Ammo
widow Of DR.. Turner, for assisting the Coun-
tess Of Essex to poison Sir Thomas Oyerbury
in l6ls, received the following sentence
"That vs. she was the first TO Introduce the
fashion of yellow stsrched rufS she should
be hung in that dress, that the same might
be held ia shame and detestation." In the
play of AibusnaZzar, edited l6l4, Arsnllina
asks Trncalo, "what price bears wheat and
saffron, that your band Is SO sllf and yellow
Speaking Of starch, it first came iuto use
in England in 1864. 1t was carried thther
by a Ars Diughen Vanien PlAsse, of Elan
dcr', who sat up business as proiessed star
cher, aud instructed others how to use the
article for Gj, and how to make it for 920,-
The Ne,rs Letter, of l7l2 gives this notice
Very good starch made in Bostcn by starch
maker lately from London, is for sale .. -
The picture of Governor Winthrop appears
with au elegant ruff. The custom was i'm
ported by some of our primitive settlers but
| ia 1929 this part OF the dress became 90 en-
larged that the Legislature Of Massachusetts
felt obliged to command that it be kept with
in due bounds.
In the reign Of James bands, succeeded
the full, slil suf They Ns.e prepared with,
wire aud starch, so as stand out "borrizontal-
ly and sqnarely," They were held BY cord
aud asset at the neck. .., ...t ...
| People Of the ton lad the strings and tas-
sells OF their bands sometimes elegantly seal
| loped and embroidered, which custom finally
attracted the attention %! our civil authorl
ties, who, in 1884, forbade bands to be Or
namented with costly work" In 1859 a Law
Was likewise enacted pI ohibiting the wearip$
: Of bands SO broad Us had been lhe fashion.