Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-07-11
The Heads Of Our GRANDMOTHER.

The Heads Of Our GRANDMOTHER.
Till the end Of the thirteenth century
the veil was the principal feature in the
c0ifures OF the French women. It was
worn attached to q small crown, from
which it fell in neat folds, or thrown
over the head and shoulders, or tied
across the forehead and under the chin.
The use of the veil was adopted alike
by those who had given up the vanities
Of the world, among the foremost of
which long hair was classed, and retired
to nunnery, and by those who looked
for pleasure in the present and hoped
in the future. It is likely that the style
of dress affected by the religious order
differed very little, if it differed at all.
from the fashions which prevailed at
that period. Their costume, no doubt,
became peculiar to themselves in the
course of time, from the fact that they
continued to veil themselves, and clothe
themselves in garments of primitive
simplicity, although the fashions had
changed and much improved in taste.
In the ninth century the veil wss worn
in three colors-whits. purple, and blue.
An illustrated Bible OF the time of
Charles the Bald, which may lie seen at
the British Museum, gives us q very
good idea of the couture of that period.
The book, which is under glass case
or We might have learned more by turn
ing its pages-is open on a painting
representing young lady with scar.
let face, who wears thick veil, which
strives
To cover what it could not hide,
for beneath its ample folds the hair may
be plainly distinguished. 1t is taste
fully dressed in the most simple style.
The hair is brushed down over the fore
head, and curls hang in heavy clusters
down the back, falling from the ugly
little silver crown to which the veil is
attached. In tho couture of the tenth
century the portrait of red
faced lady in an old manuscript-there
is nothing worthy of remark, except
the improvement in the quality of the
veil, which is now of exquisite texture,
and the severe workmanship of the
crown. The hair is dressed very
much the same as in.the ninth century.
In fact, no Important change in the
col fure of the French women is to be
notlced till tho eleventh century. Tue
portrait of Blanche, the vain and i'm.
perious queen of King Robert, presents
an arrangement, to use a word just now
coming into currency, in plaits and coils.
Her hair was rolled in many curious fret,
Much like rich AID curious cOrOnet,
The veil covers less of the hair than
it did formerly. 1t is thrown off the
forehead-indeed, it might have been
advantageously thrown off the head al
together, for it adds nothing to the at
Effectiveness of the couture. As we be-
gin to feel interested. in the course of
the two long plaits which fall meander-
ing behind the ears, we lose sight of
them, as they travel under tunnel of
white linen, and We see nothing more
of them till they come out at the other
end, so to speak, at the back of the
head, where they spin themselves into
. coil. The veil did its best-that is to
say its worst-to distigure the couture of
the twelfth century, making elegance
hideous with knots and beaus and "trip
perry. About this time the French
ladies, following the dictates of q re-
ligious passion, or fashion, cut their
hair short and tied up their heads, as it
were, in q veil. A seal date, 1910, upon
which is stamped the figure of lady,
gives an idea of this peculiar headdress.
1t gives q vague idea that the lady is
suffering from sore head. It is tight
ly bandaged, for the veil is worn like
plaster, SETTLING, and showing the
shape Of the head. It is certain that
the women of the thirteenth century did
not all follow this execrable fashion, for
there is extant statue of distinguished
lady of that period who persisted in
wearing her hair be witchingly dressed,
albeit half hidden beneath tantalizing
veil. Long plaits and curls are dis
continued, the crown is cast aside, and
the veil begins to disappear about this
time. In the last years of the thirteenth
century very short veil is worn, with q
turban a Ia Tarque; but is of little con-
sequence in the couture. The turban,
which superseded the crown, is worn in
the Jewish style. A wide band, falling
from either side and passing around the
chin, covers the sides of the face. A
portrait OF marguerite OF provence
shows us the same couture with the
bandage united. In front
Her sunny locks
Hang on her temples like golden fleece.
The turban is ornamented with small
blue bows, but the simple, almost re-
ligiou6 character of the couture is still
preserved. At the back
The hair,
United, and ignorant OF srtful aid,
Adown her shoulders loosely was displayed.
Till the end of the thirteenth century
the French fashions show more ingenu-
ity than art. The women dressed their
hair unpretentiously. as became their
lowly condition in life. Shut up in the
castles of their lords and masters, they
could hardly be called creatures of
world with which they held no inter
course. Male companions they had
none now and then there came q visitor
to the castle, and then the ladies would
wrap themselves in their wells, in order
to hide from prctane eyes that beauty
which WAS given ONLY for their lords to