New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-20
QUEER NOTES FLOu THE DR1PERS nc.
IIONfEI
Fran The London GioJe.

Fran The LoRd0n Gi0Je.
There are some queer mites OF informal on TO be
picked M from tie history OF almost anything % =
diapers shop. Take for instance, chllls pcsse.
ho that IS not familiar with the yagJries ot
etymOl0gy would think OF any connection between
such an article and the white surplcc that has
become so prominent an object IN our modern
church seryicef Yet the road from ono to the other
+. Dl1lu a- way to parish church " 4 peliss- waS
- -. - Ii, ..in LILO a. LII, I'M
coat, in fact. Churchincn who had IL perform
early services IN cold churches at All times OF the
year were wont o. wear these Tar coats or
pcc.e' A synod, our compiler tell, us. held ia
L0naon IN the year 200, restricted the black
monks aud nuns To the Use OF lanh, cat and foN
skins. with the view oil preventing tie spread OF
Injury IN dress II may be easily understood that,
at "A time when godliness and gncleanlncs, were
to a great extent identical. those peilicr would 10
time get decideoly uapleIs both 20 the eye AMI
the nose. and as n means OF mitigating those oblcc-
Ions some hat. linen iunics or supor pei'cG were
adopted. and from this 20 the abbreviated sur-
Vlice" the progress would be easy. ms 81 -gests
very interesting reelection upon the Important doe
TRIAL slguliiD5nce Which has been commonly
attached 70 this very decent and appropriate churcI
Ycstnient.
Another dip INTO the dictionary brings before M
some curious phases Of the domestic life OF onr
forrlathers We light the word d" counter
laue.' which NC are told is - corruption Of conn
teTpoint. derN ed from the French c0nfrcp0nt or
point coBfrepoiFf,-stitch against stltch-drnotng
something sewn on both sides. Ana then our
author proceeds 10 give Us some account or tho
sleeping habits Of ancient times IN tils country.
Our Saxon ancestors. he says. " were not 80 nice
In their night garncais rs We are statement
which he immediately follows mp by observing thar.
rs a matter of fac,. they HAD no night garments
which reminds sOmcw hat OF DR.. H1rrebrvwe's
famous charter on " snakes IN Iceland where
the doctor at pro, eeds OBSERVE. there
snakes. The SaXOns required their ENTERTAINMENTS
for other purposes than wearing by night. The
servants. 10 seems. were accustomed to put 0uS
their candles b} throwing their cher.iscs at them
humorous practice which saved the cost o. eN-
iinguI>hers. and did not always set The house on
Ire. though told 10 was denounced rs
good people IN those days slept without night gar
meats, the counterpaues were padded. ana mo
padding stitched IN by diagonaiiy crossing lines
resembling the panes OF church windows. Hence
it has been supposed "countcrpoint became
counterpane.r lie would be learned draper
who should thoroughly appropriate the contents
Of this new dictionary Whether hs schol arlY
stores would conduce to the efficiency Of his bust
ness management we are unable 10 decide. II IS
quite conceivable that IN the learned days 10 como
a shopman who cOud discourse yoluOly on tho
farthingales and furbcloW- 81 the Middle Ages.
could trace back tho cloak IN It's various forms and
phases to the Norman INVASION. would have =
peculiar fascination for ladies N blue spectaclcs,
and il may bo that such salesman wOuld COM
mand n higher prce Ia the market than one who
could merely pass the usual commonplace upon
the weather. At present. however interesting as
the volume before us undoubtedly is Il eau hardly
be recommended for af-holida, study