The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-01-20
United States Laws Regarding Dress.


form designed to meet the usages of Eu-
ropean courts, OIL the recommendation
of the mission to Ghent in the year 1917,
in which the United States Ministers
costumes were fixed as follows: A blue
coat, lined with white silk, straight
standing cape embroidered with gold,
single breasted, straight or round but
ton-holes, slightly embroidered. Buttons
plain, or if they can be had, with the
artillerist's eagle stamped upon them, i.
e., an eagle flying, with wreath in his
mouth, grasping lightning In one of its
talons. Cuffs embroidered in the man.
ner OF th. cape, white cashmere
breeches; gold knee-buckles, white silk
stockings and gold or gilt shoe-buckles.
A three-cornered chapeau bras, not SO
large as those used by the French, nor
SO small as those used by the English, a
black cockade to which ar eagle was
afterward attached. Sword, ETC., cor
responding.
The Secretaries of Legation had the
same costume, with the exception that
their coats had less embroidery chan
those of the Ministers. Fol the grand
gala days at court, where the occasion
was greater than an ordinary levee, a
coat similar to that above described, but
embroidered round the .kirts and down
the breast as well as at the cuffs and
cape was recommended The coats were
distinguished as the great and the small
uniform A white ostrich feather, or
plumet. was recommended for the Min
ister's hat not standing erect, but sewed
round the brim.
The above dress prevailed from the
date of its promulgation on November 6,
1917, until Governor VIM L. Marcy in
1858, issued circular doing away with
such uniforms in great degree, as fol
lows:
"DEPARTMENI OF STATE,
s WASHINGTON, June l, 1858. (
IN addition to the Personal Instructions
to the Diplomatic Agents of the United States
to Foreign Countries the following are here.
after to be observed:
In performing the ceremonies observed on
the occasion of his reception, the representa-
tive of the United States will conform so far az
is consistent with a just sense of his devotion
to republican institutions, to the costume OF
the country wherein he is to reside, and with
the rules prescribed for representatives of his
rank, but the Department would encourage, al
far as is practicable without impairing hit
usefulness to his country, his appearance al
court in the simple dress of an American citi
zen. SnOulQ Lntre Dc cases Wnero Gn1S cannon
be done, owing to the character of the foreign
Government, without detriment to the public
interest the nearest approach to it compatible
with the due performance of his duties is earn
estly recommended. The simplicity of oul
usages and the tone of feeling among our peo
pie is much more in accordance with the exam
| pie of our first andmost disguished representa-
| tive at a Royal Court than the practice which
| has since prevailed 1t is to be regretted thai
| there was ever any departure in this respect
| from the example of DR.. Franklin. Histor,
has recorded and commended this example, 81
congenial to the spirit of our politica, institu
| all obstacles to return to the simple and unos
| tentatious course which was deemed SO prope
and was SO much approved in the earlier day
| of the Republic 1t is our purpose to cultivate
| the most amicable relations with all countries
| and this, we believe, can be effectually dom
| without requiring our diplomatic agents abroad
| to depart in this respect from what is suited *
| the general sentiments of our fellow-citizens a
home. All instructions in regard to what i
| called diplomatic uniform or court-dress beins
| withdrawn, each of our representatives in othe
| countries will be left to regulate this matte
| according to his own sense Of propriety, ant
| with due respect to the views of his Govern
| ment as herein expressed. w. L. MARCY"
In an act of Congress approved Marcel
| 27. 1867, it was declared that officer
who had served during the late war q
volunteers in the army of the United
States, should be entitled to bear th'
official title of their rank, and wear, upol
occasions of ceremony, the uniform o
the highest grade they had held by bre
vet or other ommissions.-Ne,0 Yorl
| (IOfhier