Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-12-27
Yoetifal.
THE CENTENNIAL OyERCOAT.

= l.
We are wont to ridicule the ladies' for
their love of change; to smile In 3 supe-
rior and Jove-like manner upon the curi-
Gus forms and shapes assumed by the
modern skirt, its collapse from thedpro-
portions of an orange cut in twain to the
garments of a maiden rescued from the
briny deep. The feminine taste in colors
is an ever-ncreasing source Of wonder to
the masculine mind, just as the eccentric
raiment affected by the sternerI sex Ii an
insult to the finer sensibility Of the gentler
sex. Adam felt decidedly astonished when
he beheld Eve for the first time. She up-
on her part felt no less surprise upon be-
holding a "horrid man,. The descend
ants OF these two have gone on being as
tonished at each other ever since. Fash
ions In dress have changed a good deal
since the days Of Adam and Eve, although
when q lady has resurected o garment
worn by. her great grandmother at one iof
Lady Washington's receptions, and found
it quite the style, she Is very apt To. Con-
clude that there is nothing now under the
sun. .7l Som ans atdl div Oh Of iadw
While the ladies are rushing into points
Of exclamation over cardinal red and
navy blue, and waxing eloquent upon the
wonderful combinations of Worth, Iwhono
longer makes the man, but devotes him
self exclusively to the RIB" the nascu-
line mind is cudgeling its brains about
the centennial overcoat. We have no d.
rect information as to the style Of over
coat worn by our first parent. o. His two
eldest sons, SO far. As, the Sunday-school
picture books inform US, rather affected
furs; but furs were cheap in those days,
and that triumph of modern art, the ul-
ster. had not as yet been invented. I'VE
think it probable that that yoluminous and
longitudinal garment was thought of by
Noah and his three sons at least we are
led to such supposition from the fact
that the wooden young men who form the
ships company Of the modern child's ark
are generally attired in a long coat OF. a
blue color with single row of buttons.
The tailor who made the clothes for the
Noah family had evidently not arrived at
the noble and economical idea OF donble-
breasted coats Ulsters were first, dis
covered, as their name implies, in Ire
land. They were the favorite garb of The
ONeills, the o 'Cahans, the 'Dohefthvs,
and O'Hould- -me-or-r rll-foights. Va We can
not tell the exact county from, which they
spring. Armagh claims the upper portion
OF the garb, and Down the lower. The
belt and buckle probably came from For
managh. There are also traces fsthis
coat to be found among the Gaels of Scot
| land, when there were no other clothes to
speak of, and before they had taken to
petticoats and skern dhus. The modern
ulster bears strong, Resemblance to the
Scotch terrier in that its beauty consists
in its ugliness. The shaggier and more
like unto the dress of the pearl diver 1t is
the greater favor does IL find in masculine
sight. That the ulster has virtues no one
will pretend to deny. 1t is a tower OF
strength to him whose innerworks have
succumbed to the ravages Of time. In its
capacious pockets man may carry his
dinner, his children, his dog Snyder, his
wardrobe and his general equipment. IL
is comfortable to the touch, and imposing
in appearance. 1t is a badge Of respecta-
bility by day, and pillar Of warmth by
night. The young an-afraid-of-his-cred-
itors will rejoice to know that the ulster il
not dead but sleepeth, that is is to appear
with the closing Of the centennial year as q
single-breasted "Noah's ark. "1o Alfred in
the new and improved garbb of the
lO'Shaunessys, the wearer will resemble q
clerical sack, of oats all .buttoned down
before. II is combination OF the palstot-
a-la-poliee officer, the robe-de-friar of-or-
ders gray. and the soft side Of an inspect
ed and condemned army blanket The
hood, which we presume will accompany
the latest cut, viii enable the respectable
ljuryman to fancy himself an owl in the
desert. to pull down his blinds, ana 70 re-
tire within his inner consciousness.l he
professional assassin will hailit as a refuge
from justice, and all classes. of the commu-
nifty will rejoice that behind its sheltering
wings they can hide any lingering shame
which may affect their self-accusing con.
sciences at the close OF our first century
I-Chicdgo Inter. Ocean. 81,