, 1861-04-20
HOW To Dress HEN.

Dack,cood's dfdgazine Of halt dozen years
aco-{wo cannot ct this momens put our
hands on the particular nnmber) contained
well written and elaborate article, evidently !
the work cf an experienced military rnan, en-
titled, +" How Shall We Dress Hin" In which
the uniform Of the British soldier was dis
cussed. TIE sum Of the writer's conclusions,
with which wc most heartily agree, 'Tas that
the practice of rigging up soldiers in the tog-
gcry now adays in use In thearmles OF Europe
a.d America, is not only absurd uIpositiyely
Injurious 10 them, hence detrimental to the
service in which they are cugagcd; that the
method Of dressing soldier tor lhe dut1es OF
the field, is that which G ecnsiblc man having
the command Of the mea1s, would choose If
about to devote himself to q months hunting,
or auy other active out Of door labor, in " hlch
the 1reest exercise Of his muscles is demanded;
TINT Ills limbs must ho unrestra:ned BY tight
pante, OF close, bob-tailed ccat; that Ills
ne,k ought to bo numbered with nothing
more than the ordinary e1avasi that his hat
should not only afford covering to his lead,
bu: shade his eyes from the glare Of the sun;
and that his whole Get-up should he that
which gives every muscle the liberty OF quick
AID active p1ay. or course, these require
msnts preclude Tic idea Of the usual coats and
pant. which fit like laay's glove OF a dnady's
| boot, aud in which motion always Involves O
| contest between tho swell Of muscle and the
resistance OF cloth; they rule cut the patent
| leather neck checkers as denominations, and
=! the bcar-skiu cans, hard-leathcr frontless hats
aud ali such d ridiculous paraphernalia; and
bring US back nearly to the citizens or work
ing. day drcss which lboring men wear. i
loose ccat Of dark substantial cloth, made
like long jacket, or perhaps like the ordi
nary :ioEe sack, with this difference, that thc
skirts iu front azo to be cut nway, after tht
"shaa-bcl1y pc:tcrn;" vest Of The same me-
tez:.1, or perhaps q LIZ hter fabric, long
loose and with ample pockets; pant
loose aud roomy, but not baggy, and, though
dark, differing in shade from The coat; ging
ham neck tie; colt Kossuth hat Of me
d!um height Of crown and width Of brlm
good End substantial laced boots-these, witt
ligh. flannel shirta Of any uniform coicr, red
blue OF gray, together with the army orercoa
as now made, Gre what seem to us to fill tn
idea 81 sergiccable and soldtcrly dress. In
such, all the natural powers Of tie body cou1
be put forth, and none Of the force ncccssar
| in a vigorous charge or rapid pursuit, OF in th
ordinary march or drill, would be expended L
| overcoming the disadvantages Of the mar
monkey fashion In n lich troops have ordina
rily been rugged.
Tho matter Of oruanentation is one Of tasts
: | 4 stripe moro or less on the leg Of the pantt
: or an additional strip Of braid, or facIngs c
. co!ored cloth, or T. lack Of thpm; the preaenc
Z | or absence Of feathe 3 and epaulettcs, woul
f make co difference with the comfort Of ii
r dress tina: we describe. The Things sougt
are warmth with nghtness in the material, an
perfect ease and complete adaptation
the required service, in the fashion, These b
ing met, o1namentation may be left to Il
: suggestions Of fancy.
Our readers who hava the patriotic feyt
Y will excuse us II nc present this matter
+ anothes shkpe. Look at the Chicago Ligl
4 Guard crack corps ooce-on du;y in fl
dress. Where IN nj the world is there q hi
man being who would choose that rig inwhie
:, to do, with most ease to himself, a days work
!. Who. with stupid bcar.skin cap on his hca
would attempt days hird-shootiug, on Il
Il prairie, IN August, with the mercury at s.
Il Who would draw. such pants on
]. legs and buckle such q leather strap around l
r. neck, for fishing excursion Of only afew hon
!. duration2 Or who, for any service whatev'
, unless for exhibition In a glass c2se, as IN q
- ample Of the misery that q ta.los's art c
: lnaict, would squeeze hlmsen into one
their coatss Tho answer, SO lar rs it aff:'
&c pertonal comfort, is obvious; but there
n another consideration quite as importa
1t That toggery used In war would shorten ea
q. dny'a march, when compared With the {
i tancc accomplished By the same men unim
of ded, three to five miles; it would allow an
NJ cmy, broken aud routed, to escape, BY. reas
Of the impossibility Of rapid pursuit; aud
y all the operations Of the campaign it would
Is tract filth to q third from the average Ell
+ cncy Of those condemned to wear It.
10 We cntrcat those who are charged with I
b fitting out Of the Illinois troops; to. see to
q rs they ra!ue The reputation Of the State, Il
= they do not, under the guise Of uniform,
~ the men. up In corscts, choke them F.
= leather bandages, nor load their: heads ii
~ weight that would break down q war hot
. As sure as they do this, their money will
1c wasted. The troops who went to Mex
~ early learned tho value of proper dress, a
q" tho nbsurdity and discomfort Of an elabor
he military uniform They soon discarded
#, encumhrarces with Which pr3de md etiquc
Ia started them -out; and came back ut 1ast,
a. nsssg Us possible, q the simple and :eo4ft
M eole dress TINT NE hare sndeayored to
e.: eetabe. Let us, :then,' haya:no moneythfo
1g sSay n the fsolIeh attempt to ,tgansmog.
~ our men aio tnonkeyse They 60 to do flg
y ing, not Is adsestisemsntA Of the- -sk1ll Of
ee .nois tailors in making human beincsS =
ar 70, table. .'':rs: :;~:'.s, ,t'z:I -: !:
y: - Ths Baltimore Sun Of Tuesday ~, !, ~
tn on 1he n eat question ot Unlon; & sai:3Sst
re It has been 1most malignant secession gbx
nd The Sun's ssileate tells the story. Bslti.n
air T. .1,Ir.. :-.Lg* - =
-, s..7 -t=..H;