Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-01-05

TIE CENTENNIAL OvERcoAr-We are wont
to ridicule the ladies for their love of change /;
to smile in q superior and Jove-like manner
upon the curious forms and shapes assumed
by the modern skirt, its collapse from the
proportions OF an orange cut in twain to the
garments of maiden rescued from the briny
deep. The feminine taste in colors is an ever
increasing source of wonder to the masculine
mind, Just as the eccentric raiment affected
by the sterner sex is an insult TO the finer
sensibility of the gentler sex. Adam felt de-
cidedly astonished when he beheld Eve for
the first time. She upon her part felt no less
surprise upon beholding Il 81 horrid man. ="
The descendants Of these two have gone on
being astonished at each other ever since
Fashions in dress have changed a good deal
since the days of Adam and Eve, although
when o lady has resurrected garment worn
by her great grandmother at one of Lady
Washingtons receptions, and found it quite
the style, she is very apt to conclude that
there ID nothing new under the sun.
While the ladies' are rushing into points Of
exclamation over cardinal red and navy blue,
and waxing eloquent upon the wonderful
combinations of Worth, who no longer makes
the man, but devotes himself exclusively to
the rib, the masculine mind is cudgeling
| its brains about the centennial overcoat. We
have no direct information as to the style OF
overcoat worn by our first parents. His two
| eldest sons, SO far us the Sundav-school pic
turo books nform us, rather affected furs
but furs we're cheap in those duys. and that
triumph OF modern art, the ulster, had not
as yet been invented. We think it probable
that that voluminors and longitudinal gar
rnent was thought OF by Noah and his three
sons at least we are led to such n supposl-
tl...4 hat tl,a
men who form the ships company of the
modern child's ark are generally sttlred in n
long coat of blue color with u single row OF
! buttons. The tailor who made clothes tor
the Noah family had evidently not arrived at
| the noble and economical idea of double
breasted coats. listers were first discovered,
US their name implies, in Ireland. They were
the iuvorite garb OF the O'Neills, the O'Ca-
hans, the ODohertys. and OHould-m -me-or-
| Ill-foghts. We cannot tell the exact county
from which they sprang. Armagh claims the
upper portion of the garb, and Down the
lower. The belt and buckle probably carnc
from Formanagh There are also traces OF
this coat to be found among tbs Gaels OF
Scotland, when there were NO other clothes
to speak of. and before they had taken to
petticoats and skern dhus. The modern ul-
ster bears strong resemblance TO the Scotch
terrier in that its beauty consists in its ugli-
ness. The shagger and more like unto the
dress OF the pearl diver it is the greater favor
does it find innasculine sight. That the ulster
has virtues no one will pretend to deny. Ii
is tower of strength to him whose inner
works have succumbed to the rayages Of
time. In its capacious pockets man may
carry his dinner, his children. his dog Sny-
der, his wardrobe, and his general equip
ment. 1t is comfortable To the touch, and
imposing IN appearance. IL Is badge OF
respectfully 10y day, and Il pillar of warmth
by night. The young -his-cred-
ltors will rejoice to know that the ulster is
not dead bui sleepeth, that 1t IL to appear
with the closing OF tho centennial year as u
single-breasted Noahs ark" Atiired in
the new and improved garb of the O'Shau-
nessys. the wearer will resemble II clerical
sack of oats all buttOned down before. 1t is
II combination OF the paletot-a-la- pulire-of off-
Ger the trobe-de-friar- -Of-orders gray, and the
soft side of AL Inspected and condemned
| army blanket. The hood, which we pre-
sumo will accompany the latest cut will en-
able the respectable jurymuu to fancy him
self an owl in the desert, to pull down his
| blinds, and to retire within his inner con
sciOusness The professional nssassn vii
hail II AS Il refuge from Justice, and all classes
of the community will rejoice that behind IT.
shelterlng wings they can hide any liuger-
ing shame which may affect their seli-accns
ing consciences at the close of our FIRST cen
tury Chicago Inter Ocean.