Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-06-07
sTAUNTON, VIRGINIA, TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 1859.
Clothes.

Blackwood has an excellent paper on the sub.
iect of dress. The writer affirms that modern
civilization, and enlarged and rapid intercourse,
have done a great deal toward establishing a
uniformity of costume throughout Europe, in
the case of the higher classes of society. Goat,
waistcoat, trowsers and hat are common to
England, France, Russia, Germany, Italy and
Spain; and even the dogged Turk, as if desirous
to obi iterate the memory of the fact that he is
at best an intruder on this side of the Bosphorns,
has made some advance toward the adoption
of the standard dress of Europe. The follow
ing extract will show the writer's treatment of
his suggestive theme:
withstanding the general uniformity of
European costume there are certain differences
in style peculiar to the several nations. In
Germany, dress, apart from official costume,
signifies nothing but an outward covering for
the body, constructed without any regard to
symmetry taste or elegance. Very rarely, in.
deed, do you meet with German, especially OF
the central or southern States, whose clothes do
not appear to have been put on with pitch
fork in fact, the old remark of Tacitus that a
German pays no attention to the ornament OF
person, is even yet applicable. Near the
frontier" says he, "on the borders OF the Rhine,
theinhabitants wear something resembling clothes
but with an air of neglect that shows them al
together Indifferent about the choice" 1t is
right however to exempt Berlin and Hamburg
from this general censure, for in those cities you
do occasionally meet with individuals who have
bestowed some attention upon the texture and
style of their raiment, which is fashioned rather
after the British, than the French model. 1t
must also be kept in mind that in all countries
where the military service is regarded as the
peculiar and appropriate profession OF the no
bility and gentry, aesthetics of dress receive very
little attention. Those who should take the
lead in setting the fashion appear constantly in
Uniform; and the cultivation OF ordinary appar-
ell being left almost entirely to the BURGLAR
class, whose taste is seldom refined, it follows as
natural consequence that gross slovenry pre-
vails
On the other hand, the Dutch, commercial
and wealthy people, exhibit considerable taste
in dress, being particular as to fit and quality,
and never launching into extravaganza. The
Hollander is not sufficiently understood or ap
preciated in this country. The absurd idea that
be wears an indefinite number of breeches, and
resembles O walking balloon, still fingers among
US; whereas Counsellor Pleydell was much near
or the mark in his statement to Julia Mannering
point of gaantry, than their volatile neighburs
are willing to admit. can assure you, in spite
of your scorn, that if you wish to see handsome
men you must 90 to Holland. The prettiest
fellow ever saw was Dutchman." OF the
Swedes we shall not speak. The Frenchman
dresses showly but he does not to our thinking
dress we'll. There is always something outre
and extravagant in his appearance, as If the
tailor considered his customer merely as pin or
lay figure on which to display his skill IN the
art offabricating garments. There can be no
doubt that the Frenchman dresses rather for
display than comfort. He is fond ofinnovations,
new styles of cut, and artificial appliances, so
that with him the fashion of his garments is
always in state of change. 1t is in small things
as in great the French cannot abide either by
coat or a constitution. Their present style,
Judging from the last human specimens and
costume pictures we have seen, may conscl-
entiously be denominated execrabe. Apnched
waist to man is simply detormity; peg top
trousers are distinct abominatlon.
We have observed with consde able disgust,
that this French fashion of peg tops has been
imported into the British Islands, to the great
Disagreement of those who have adopted it,
The gentleman who dresses thus may truly be
termed a fish out of water for when in state
of repose his figure bears striking resemblance
to that of salmon attempting to stand on its
tail. The truth is, as we have already remarked,
that the English are very clumsy mitators, and
they should never, on any account, essay to ape
the French, who have at all events that talent
OF carrying out their eccentricities with jaucty
assurance and impudent 6onhomaaie which is
exceedingly amusing and delightful. Whereas,
the Englishman though bold as lion when his
blood is up, is in matters of social intercourse
reserved, difident, and rather awkward being,
painfully nervous lest he should be made sub
ject OF rdicule, and blushing up to the very eyes
if he thinks he can detect litter"