Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-27
THE GAZETTE.
FRIDAY MORNING, MAY 81, ls5.
CLOTHES.

Blackwood has an excellent paper on the
subjectofdress. The writer athrms that mou-
ern civilization, and enlarged andrapld inter-
course, have done i great deal toward es-
tablishinc a uniformity of costume through
out Europe, in the case of the higher classes
of society. Coat, waistcoat, trousers and
bat are common to England, France, Russia,
Germany, Italy and Spain; and even the
docccd Turk, as if DESTROYS to obllterate the
memory of the fact that he is at best an In
truder on this side Of the Bosphorus, has
made some advance toward the adoption OF
the standard dress of Europe. The following
extract will show the writer's treatment OF
his suggestive theme:
Notwithstanding the general uniformity
Of European costume, there are certain differ
enees in style peculiar to the several nations.
In Germany, dress, apart from official cos
tune, signifies nothing but an outward COW
ering for the body, constructed without any
regard to symmetry, taste or elegance
Very rarely, indeed, do you meet with a
German, especially Of the central or south
ern States, whose clothes do not appear to
have been put on with a pitch fork; in fact,
the old remark of Tacitus, that q German
paws no attention to the ornament of person,
is even yet applicable. Near the frontier"
saws he, con the borders of the Rhine, the
inhabitants wear something resembling
clothes, but with an air of neglect that
shows them altogether in different about the
choice" 1t is right however to exempt
Berlin and Hamburg from this general CEN
sure, 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 re-
garded as the peculiar and appropriate pro-
fcssion of the nobility and gentry, the esthe-
tics 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 apparel being
left almost entirely to the burgher class,
whose taste is seldom refined, it follows as
a natural consequence that gross slovenry
prevails.
On the other hand, the Dutch, a CONNER
cial and wealthy people, exhibit considerable
taste in dress, being particular as to tit and
quality, and never launching into extrava-
eance. The Hollander is not sufficiently un-
derstood or appreciated in this country
The absurd idea that he wears an indefinite
number of hreeches, and resembles a walk
ing balloon, still fingers among us; whereas
Counsellor Pleydell was much nearer the
mark in his statement to Julia Mannerlng:
'The Dutch are q much more accomplished
people, in point of g~allantry, than their
volatile neighbors are willing to admit. |
can assure you, in spite of your scorn, that
ifyou wish to see handsome men you must 60
TO Holland. The p~rettiest fellow ever saw
was a Dutchman." Of the Swedes we shall
not speak. The Frenchman dresses showily
hut he does not to our thinking dress WE'LL
There is always something outre and extra
VACANT in his appearance, as if the tailor con-
sidered his customer merely rs a pin or lay
figure on which to display his skill in the art
of fabricating garments. There can be no
doubt that the Frenchman dresses rather for
display than comfort. lie is fond Of innora-
tions, new styles of cut, and artificial appli-
,nces. so that with him the fashion of his
garments is always in a state of change. 1t
is in small things az in great: the French can
not abide either by a coat or q constitution.
Their present style, judging from the last
human specimens and costume pictures we
have seen, may conscientiously be denomi-
mated execrable. Apinched waisttoa man is
simply a deformity; peg top trousers are q
distinct abOmlnation.
We have observed with considerable dis
gust, 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 q fish out of water; tor
when in a state of repose, his figure bears a
striking resemblance to that of a salmon at
tempting to stand on its toll. The truth is,
as we have already remarked, that the Eng
fish are very clumsy imitators, 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 a
iaunty assurance and impudent bonhommte
which is exceedingly amusing and delight,
full. Whereas, the Englishman though bold
as a lion when his blood is up, is in matters
of social intercourse, a reserved, difident and
rather awkward being, painfully nervous
lest he should be made n subject of rldlcule,
and blushirg up to the very eyes it he thinks
he can detect a litter"
An ANONYMOUS letter is a mode Of moral