The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1882-11-11
The STUDY of Historical Cos
tune.

Persons of taste have long been an
noyed by the persistence with hich
persons without taste dress badly
wearing, that is to say, the wrong
things at the wrong time, and the
right things never. A Russian Gen.
eral, who now holds very Important
command in the far East, complained.
when, some five or six years ago he
visited London, that it was impossible
to understand on what principle the
English dressed themselves. A few
male friends had invited him to
dinner; and on appearing among
them he found himself the only one of
the party who wore frock coat. The
next morning he was to breakfast
with few more friends; and, de-
termined this time to be on the safe
side, he presented himself in a dress
suit We have met with novel in
which one of the principal incidents
was the refusal of a check taker at the
Royal italian Opera to admit dis
tinguished foreigner who. with the
regulation evening coat, wore a pair
of light-colored trousers, such as, in q
like connection, would be accepted on
the Continent Cat least in summer) as
quite appropriate to festive occasion.
The only approach, indeed, to a
despotism of taste that now exists in
England is the authority exercised In
the matter of costume by our operate
officials, who tolerate nothing but
black and white. In ordinary life
people will doubtless continue to dress
as they may think fit, without needing
the circumstances and appeals ad-
dressed, to them by those who have
studied the subject, and who have at
once better information and better
perceptions than the general mass of
mankind. But what may be permit
ted to ordinary individuals cannot be
tolerated on the part Of painters,
sculptors and stage managers. Smith,
Jones and Brown live, dress absurdly,
die, and are forgotten. But the men
whose lot it Is TO influence the public
mind have heavier responsibilities
and the evil they do lives after them.
1t is, indeed, of considerable import
ance that accuracy of costume should
be observed in pictures, in statuary
and in theatrical representation and
for this reason encouragement is due
to the Costume Society,"" now being
formed under the auspices of Mr.. Alma
Tadema, Mr.. George Goodwin, Mr..
Louis Pagan and others, and for
which the cooperation of the chiefs of
several foreign Academies has been
secured. The object of this association
is to promote the study OF costume in
its historical aspect and significance,
so that there may be an end, once and
forever, to the anachronisms of all
kinds in dress by which the works of
artists, architects and dramatists are
now so often disfigured. The Costume
Socitt y will issue prints and engrav-
ings periodically to its subs ribt rs.
But It's chief impo rtance will consist
in the AZ thcr.ty with which it will be
able to speak on all quest tons within
It's sphere that may rom time to time
be submi tied to it.
A painter is dealing, let us say, with
an incide1 of the Fl teenth century in
Ncr way, CT of the elghtsel tn In Bull
81 ria. Instead of hesita ting, specu-
lating and inquiring without avail
how he is to dress the personages OF
his scene, he can in future make ap-
plication to the Co. tune Society,
when he will receive without unnec-
essay delay a colored drawing show
ing him precisely what he wished to
ask.