Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-11
THE ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF
E.sE.SS.

DRESS.
The following Interesting note uuon the
above subject appears in the address, b,torr
the Rocky Mountain Medical Association
by DIR. j. Nj. Toner. of this city. II supplies
many facts curious and new:
The origin and history OF dress or raiment
is subject Gi much interest, in I study OF the
progress OF our race. Clothing ems so mu IL
matter OF course. and which fashion, rank,
and usage now control i'm all civilized crun
tries, "a scarcely ever 10 excite an Inquiry as
to whether there was a period in the history of
man when he did not wear II. If we accept
the theory that the human race has emerged
from a state OF savagery. this condition Ger
tainly existed, and with 1t d moral sense so
feeble as not to recognize shame and unable
to control any desire on ethical grounds. Its
evident that the purposes OF dress among such
people would be different from that which
governs civi lied society. at the present
time From study of the habits and
usages OF the uncivi!ized races it is prob
able that dress originated more in a ne
cesSity to protect exposed parts from injury
and annoyance, than from any mental or moral
conception of its prOpriety It is undoubtedly
true that climate as well as the productions OF
region and the methods adopted by races for
procuring 1OOd, may to some extent determi ne
whether the whole body or part only be COW
eled- For instance, the Esquimaux, from the
rigor OF The climate, covers the whole body as
defence against the extreme cold while races
living within the tropics, where clothing is not
required for this purpose, are found to dwell
in a stale OF almost complete nudity. The
naturally need and We mOccaSInS, the breech-
G out, and perhaps leggings, while those living
by fishing might be rather Inconvenience by
them. The North American Indians and par
ticula'l y those living in the southern parts of
the United States at the time this continent
was first visited by Europeans were found To
live In nearly nude state, or to wear little
more thar an apron. Farther north tribes de
pending on game for subsistence wore in cold
weather, not only moccasinS and le5gings, but
an additional large dressed skin or skins which
they suHpended from the shoulder and wrapped
around the body. This also served as a couch
at night. Among primitive races, where the
great struggle OF life is to provide food and to
defend themselves against the attacks of rapa-
clouS animals, it is natural tn 1t clothing would
receive oqi little consideration except for pro
lection If 1t be true that civilization multi
plies our wants, religion supplies motives for
human conduct which elevates The race: the
two add new motive for dress by educating
a sense OF shame. which places the reason for
clothing the body largely under the control of
the mind An inquiry into the dress of unctv
illzed Races shows tLAt the paris first covered
by thew undoubtedly those requiring pro-
te:tIOn \ taste for Ornamenting the body by
painting, tattOoing, amounting and by decOra-
tlons, such as wearing beads and strings OF
trophies OF various kinds around the neck and
limbs, is practiced by all primitive races The
apron OF kilt is often used more as an aiOrn-
ment OF the hoiy than from any other motive.
Much care is taken by most savage tribes to
decorate the head, and to arrange the hair i'm
fancIful manner. Frequently the head and
mex are dressed with elaborate care, while the
rest OF the body is left entirely uncovere /
The AKRON Is generally worn i'm 'front.' but
sometimes behind some wear two, one in front
and The other behind, while others wear two
but suspend them from the sides, and ffe-
quently they fail 20 meet i'm front AMI in the
rear. 1t Is true, however, that the usa of an
apron or Dreech cout OF some kind is among
the earliest articles of dress worn; perhaps
next In order is the sandal, or mOccasin, and
particularly by males among tribes III 1t live
by the chase The youth of both sexes of mo
unc1vlllZed races in tropical regions are left
entirely without clothing. About the age of
puberty, and more from desire of decorating
me the 0Ody than from any sense of propriety or
shame the apron is put on, but its use is not
considered matter of consequences or it's
omission an in prOpriety. The two sexes dres,
known that among the Chinese aud Japanese
and indeed other eastern peoples, the same
dress, nearly, serves for the two sexes. Avon
oer daaS advance mas taken place in the ethics
but 1t cannot be denied that much of the
love Oh dress Is due to the mental delight
and an S satisfaction it affords rather thin
esty or necessity. Doubtless there are many
factors which assist in determining a prefer
ence ior the material used and the form and
number OF garments to cover the BODY i'm diff
ferent countries. Christian civilization has re-
CURED dlstlnctiyeness in the dress of religious
and privileged classes, and particularly of the
sexes, The development of the idea of she de-
SlraDleneSS as well as the mannerOf clothing the
lower limbs OF men separately in pantaiOOns
dnas Ieacn tne 1eet mas been matter of slow
ry OF persons now living. Improvement i'm the
convenience of the dress of females has not
fiest examples of the body so clad a. to nermit
the Tree use of the lower exiremitieS az we'll a
the upper Is to De found in the seulpturei fig
ures dressed in armor of Egyp ian and Phpni
clan origin. The line of progress and inyention
In dress throughout the Greek and Roman civ
i IIa is pretty well known. Changesin ma
tlOnal pecuilafltleS OF costumes, even i'm mod
ern times, are very slow, So that the taste o
one age Is frequently shocked by the iingerin
CHARACTERISTICS OF preceding one. This how
ever. Is as true OF popular sentiments and be
hayior of people. or of an age. as of the mate
rial and form of their dress. And it shout
be borne In mind. retrOgresSiOn i'm either is a
1 will give one instance showing the tenien
CIV TO retrogressloni in dress, al hOngh there ar
many that could be cited, within historical
LINES, 81 me Ioliowlng Tact is recorded in the
lished in Samuel Kercheyars History of the
valley OF virginia, p. S8s: I'm the latter years
of H1a be-
throughout with the exception of the match
coat: The drawers were laid aside and the
eggngs IN, made longer, so as to reach the upper
was adopted. This was piece of linen or
cloth nearly yard long and eight or nine
inches men broad S, This passed under The belt be-
fore and behind, leaving the ends for flaps
hanging before and behind over the belt. These
belts were sometimes OrnameAted with some
kGd OF To the
III.
which supported the long leggings were az,
tached- When this belt, as was often the case
passed over the hunting shirt the upper ma RI
of the thighs and part Of the hips were naked.
The young warrior, instead of being abashed
by this nudity, was proud of his Indian like
dress. In some few Instances have saen them
go into places OF public worship in this dress
ENGLISH AND AMERICAN PARKS - The
difference between the American and the
English parks is great. The American park
is more production of art, and dotted over
with nOtices-"Keep off the grass !" while the
English park is simply bit of woodland land
scape, and especially designed for the purpose
OF furnishing green pastures for the rest and
refreshment of the tired citizen. HYDE Park.
the fashionable London resort is as different
from the New York Central Park as well could
be. The greater portion of it consists simply
In open fields, thickly set with grass, wherein
visitors are allowed to roam at will It is
simply bit of nature set i'm the midst of the
city. kensington Gardens adjoin Hyde Park,
and throughthe entire length, the two stretches
the fine avenue and fashionable drive. Rotten
Row. kensington Gardens has several fine
avenues and groves of gigantic elms; and
with Hyde Park contains only seven hundred
acres-a hundred acres less than Central Park.
Mass meetings are frequently held in Hyde
Park, notwithstanding the known objections
authorities for yrbn