Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1873-08-14

lhere are many words, indicating partlcu-
lar fabrics, which have SO passed into famil-
lar language that they no longer necessarily
suggest any special significance, except as !.
trade mark of quality. But the etymology
OF the subject is, nevertheless, interesting.
Most persons giving thought to the matter
at all would instantly recognize the meaning
of Mechlin, AlencoD, Brussels, and ChantillY
lace; why one shawl is called Paisley and
another Cashmere; that Holland was ORR
ginally manufactured by the Dutch; and
that a Fez cap carries with it local signiti-
canoe. The materials known in commerce
as Circassiaa, Cyprus. Coburg, and Damask
equally explain themselves; and, though in
a totally different manner, such fashions as
those of Wellington and Blucher boots, Mac
kintosh aud Chesterfield coats, and Spencers
But why is shirt front popularly called
dickey? Why are poplins SO named? Why
blankets as the covering of bed? Or silk,
or shawl, or jerkin, SO named, or cravat
1t is when we fail amid these shadows of
learning that the etymologists enjoy their,
Walpurgis dance of guesses. Thus with
blanket. There are said to have been three
brothers of that name at Worcester, who in
vented the coverlet SO called, and, in confrma-
ton, it is pointed out, not far off from the
antique city, is still locality known as the
Blanquets. On the other hand, Bristol
claims them among her medieval citizens,
though, for all that, they may have been
Worcestershire men as we'll. The coarse
woolens Of their fabricating appear to have
been eagerly adopted by the peasantry as
substitute for hempen cloth; then soldiers,
sportsmen, and travellers found them useful;
next they were laid Oh the stump bedsteads
of the time, and blue blanket became
Masonic banner. This may confidently be
reckOned among things not quite universally
known. AS to poplin, it was invented in q
papal territory, though by a Huguenot, and
hence called papaline, which account we
may as we'll credit, seeing that no other is at
hand. Silk may be.a Greek, a Persian, an
Avalic, Tartar. or 9 Chinese appellation,
since the photographers and other erudition-
lists might be quoted. in favor of each Ian
guage; but concerning shawls, there is only
single doubt, between translation from q
Persian word and the town of Shawl, in
BelOochistan, whence it may possibly have
been derived, and which was formerly fa-
nous for the manufacture. This must not
be confounded with the celebrated shawl of
Leybourne. A maud is Scottish plaid,
christened after Scottish Queen, daughter
of Malcolm, and wife of Henry the l. Jer-
kin may be from the Anglo-Saxon crytellien
"AISA SOON oluOAIIACS dVC1 " NC luC O1IAIu.
utive of cyrtel, a coat, presumption, at any
rate, more rational than that which traces it
to the vulgarism OF Little Jerry, which is
also claimed for jacket. But now we reach
a formidable mystery. Whence came the
name cravat? Was it first worn by Croat
Because that is almost the sole
of the learned. Concerning COL
lars, there used to be sort worn in Germany
which were nicknamed Natermordern, or
father murderers, from the legend of stu
dent who returned from the university with
such stiff pair that, on embracing his par
ent they cut his throat. There are many
testimonies to suicides-tight lacing, to wit
caused by vanity in dress, but we think this
isthe only case of assassination on record In
the general glossary, cardinals, capuchins,
and mantllas tell their own story, though
the old fashioned berthas dc not, and the re-
nowned chapcau de paille, which so harmon
lied with the beauty of Churchills of the last
century, would be equally explicit had it
been a straw hat at all.-Bdear.