The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-07-31
rne E,xmolcEy orFa shion,


There are many words, indicating
particular '.hrics, which have 80 passed
into familiar language ths. they no
longer necessarily suggest any special
significance. except as trade mark Of
quality. But the etymology Of the sub.
ject is, nevertheless, interesting. Most
persons giving a thought to the matter
at sll would instantly recognize the
meaning Of Mechlin, Aleucon, Brussels
and Chantilly lace +; why one shawl is
called a Paisley aud another . CASH
mere; that Holland was originally
manufactured by the Dutch, and that Q
Fee cap carries with it local siguif-
canoe. The materials known in COM
merce as Circassian, Cyrus, Coburg and
Damask, equally explain themselves;
and, though in totally different man.
ner, such fashions as those Of yelling
ton and Blucher boots. Macintosh and
Chesterfield coats, and Spencers. But
why is shirt front populsrly called a
dickey? Why are pop!ins 90 named1
Why blankets as the covering Of bed 2
Or silk. or shawl. or jerkin, or maud.
or cravat2 Ii is when We fall amid
these shadows Of learning that the
etymologists enjoy their Wslpurgis
dance OF guesses. Thus with blanket.
There are said to have been three
brothers OF that name at Worchester
who invented the coverlet 20 called, and.
in confirmation, it is pointed out, not
far of from the antique city.
is still q locality known as
the Blankquets. On the other
hand, Bristol claims them among her
medieval citizens, though, for all that,
they may have been Worcestershire
men as well. The coarse woolens OF
their fabricsting appear to have been
eagerly adopted by the peasantry a. .
substitute for hempen cloth then sol-
diers, sportsmen and travellers found
them useful; next they were laid on
the stump bedsteads OF the time, and q
blue blanket became a Masonic banner.
This may confidently be reckoned
among things not quite universally
known. As 10 popln, it was invented
in Papal territory, though by q
Hueuenot, and hence called papaline,
which we may as well credit, seeing
that no o,ker IS at hand. Silk
may be Greek. Persian, an
Avalic. "A Tartar, or a Chinese
appellation, since the photographers
and other erudtionists might be quoted
in favor OF each language; bnt concern
ing shawl there is only a single doubt,
between q translation from Persian
wori and the town oi Shawl, in Beloo-
chis,sn, whence il may possibly Fave
been derived. snl which was formerly
famous for the manufacture. This
must not be coniounded with The cele-
brsted shawl Of Leybonrpe. A maud
is Scotch plaid, christened after q
Scottish Qneen, daughter Of Malcomb,
aud wife OF Henry the First. Jefkin
may be from the Anglo-Saxon cyrtel-
lien, which good authorities aver 70 be
the diminutive OF cyrtel, q coat. . pre-,
sumption. at any rate, more rational
than that which traces II to the vul'
gsrism OF Little Jerry, which 10 also
claimed for jacket But now We
reach formidable mystery.
Whence came the name cravat2 Was
it first worn by n Croat cavilier' Be-
cause that is almost the sole suggestion
o. the learned. Concerning collars.
there used 10 he sort worn in Germa-
ny which were nicknsmed Vatermord'
ern, or father-murderers, from the le-
gend OF a student who returned from
the University with such . s!iG pair
that, on embracing his parent they Gu,
his throat. There are many testimo.
nies to suicides--tight lacing. TO wit
cased by vanity in vanity in dress, but
we think this is the only case OF assas-
ination on record. In the general gloss.
ary, cardinals, capuchins and mantllIas
tel their own story. though the old
fashioned berthas do not, and the re-
nowrcd ei1peau de pailie. which 80 bar
monized with the beauty Of the Church
hills OF the last century, would be
equally explicit had it been q straw hat
at all.-Bdzar.