The New York herald., 1870-02-13
The ssBrass Coat and Blue Button"
Epidomlc.

Woman has been described by q bilious,
dyspeptio cynic as creature who delights in
ever changing fnery, but we doubt II she OK
hibits more whim and caprice in the decora-
ton Of her form divine than man does in that
of his rather undvine substance. The present
seems with both an age of revivals. The
modern belle, for instance, discsrding the ex-
quisitely natural and graceful headdress Of .
few years since, when trailing lilies, waving
grasses and blushing poppies nestled lovingly
In the "tangles Of Neara's hair, puffs and rolls
and powders her silken locks into mere imi-
tatlon Of period when taste was at its very
lowest ebb.
At one of the recent balls, either the charity
or iremen's, it was noticed, to the utter con-
fusion Of all clearly defined ideas of art, that
the head of Marie Antoinette was crowning
the form of Recamier, and the powdered
hair of the marquise Of the old regime
was waving above the Grecian bend Of the
first empire, when our venerable great grand
mammas adopted the famous tOilettes di0-
planes, and terrible to relate, were in the habit
Of damping their scanty muslins to make them
cling more closely to the figure. But in the path
of retrogression our dandies threaten even to
exceed our bellies in whimsical taste as much as
they yield to them in grace and charm of ap-
pearance. II Venus nowadays conceals her
delicious contour In the stiff and tasteless, yet
gaudy and meretricious attire OF Dubarry,
Apollo is striving to pervert himself into tho
counterfeit presentment Of the traditional old
stupid brass buttoned John Buu Of the days
when the third George was King.
Within the past few months an epidemic Of .
dangerous and hideous character has broken
out among the would-be Brummells Of New
York The primary symptoms became appa-
rent in vivid blush discoloration of the
upper part Of the person, accompanied by .
violent aud repulsive eruption Of brass buttons
around that i'll used organ which the sufferer
might in . moment Of vanity designate his
mind. The disease, which we commend to the
attention Of our distinguished Health Officer,
Dr. Carnochan, is Of foreign importation, and
RACES with the greatest virulence among those
unfortunate patients who have but recently
returned from England, where the contagion
was at one time rather widely spread.
The pulse Of the tailoring trade in London
last season, it seems, was dull. The great
master, Poole, leaned idly on his shears.
These are the hours to bring out great minds.
1t was in q moment Of inspiration like this that
Brummell conceived the grand idea of starch
and Genio Scott his patent scissors. The
mind of Poole was equal TO the occn-
sion. Like Gladstone aud Disraeli, he felt
o great measure was called for. Tho
Prince Of Wales was sent for, and was
induced to adopt the blue swallow tail
of his grandfather and attempt to revo-
lutionize the gentlemanly style, and make
the John Bull of thousand caricatures
'sthe glass of fashion and the mould Of FORM"
The attempt failed signally in England, as
the imitation has failed here. There was
nothing gay or graceful in that dull cid Dress
which waved with the wind in front of every
public house In England. Men remembered
that Byron made it condition of his marriage,
which seems to have escaped the attention OF
Mrs. Stowe, that he should not be asked to
wear on his wedding day this vulgsr livery;
and the late Count dOrsay said tina. man in
blue coat and brass buttons, to preserve the
anities of art should dino continuously On