The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-09-04
FORTY YEARS AGO.
CHANCES of Manner in Four De.
cades-Oldtime Beaux
and Bellies.

not so plin:iful as now, were called
"locofocos." a name also for time APP
plea 10 ,he Democratic party.
The spinning-wheels hummed and
bazzed in many houses. Farmers
raised fax and hemp and Wore their
own 'home-spun" and home-dyed
Gentlemen Wore ruff1ed basoms
''stcks" in place of cravats and high
collars. False bosoms terme "dick.
eys," tied on with strings, served such
as would make pret.nse o. wearing
q shirt.
The ''stock" was collar of steel en-
circiing the neck. covere,; with silk or
satin and having permanent bow IN
front
ShOemakers in the country made
evervbody's shoes and never kept their
word. The village tailor sewed baggy
trousers and black coats generous la
In creases. and our father wore them
with contented aid plac.d minis. 4
suit of Clothes a year was the average
limit.
Pantaloons were strapped under the
boots huttoning pantaloon straps was
hard irksOme and unclean business
for such as had no valets. The naa-
jority af our fathers did not indulge IN
that luxury.
Pantaloons and boots were frequent
when wore with straps, taken of aud
put O. together TO save time ard
trouble. The boots were ..Welling-
TONS The gaiter was little worn.
A SMELLS GETUP.
Long, heavy cloaks. reaching quite
to the heels, were Worn by Our elders
Such cloak lasted almost Lifetime.
Nc male attire was perfact without
a BIZ Sob chain" and seal dangling
from the waistband. Gold watches
we're large in dimensions, vulgarly
called them "turnips." They were
wound up with Key, which was al
ways getting lost, and in the windin,
the machinery vas noisy
Some Of the stvle and changes In
cut and fashion were even more mark
ed than those of to-day At enc time
gentleman We're summer garment
called u /" blouse" though Very u
like that ofthe French workman. L
was of liner, reachiny to the kree
belied at the waist. button;ng in fro.3t
from the skirt 10 he bosom, and W.
pleated above and below the belt. L
resem bled the old-time A mericaai ruur-
ing-shirt. and was a very comfortable
and becoming garment. Another
period men wore white duckiIne;i
jackets much shorter than the present
sack coat.
Gentlemen put their feet In pumps,
or low slippers. at balls and dare "a.
parties. 'ancing then in SHOES or
CATERS " ,uld have been deemed 6
great lack of proprietv IS would 7
going to an evening party now in a
pair OF rubber boots
The bathrooms were illuminated BY
candles stuck In sockets on the wall.
Or, If more pretentious, in a chande-
lier Suspended from the ceiling, TIE
candles would drip, and the ladies ami |
gen,lAnan's apparel frequentls testife.i
to that fact ''Roand dances" werr
rarely tolerated-Wallzing was scand-
alOus
THE LIGHT FANTASTIC.
Some of the steps peculiar to
that period required no small degree
Of agility on the part of the gentlemen.
The "pigeon wings" and the ''shufHe"
lifted a man quite of he floor ard
would srartle a modern ballroom
The ladies lifted their skirts SO as no,
to interfere with the freedom of their
pedal loeomotion and were not ad-
verse to the display of well-turned
ankles Striped and cclored hosiery
were unknown
Custom had not then sanctioned
feminine skating. A girl. In 1912, on
skates would have been a phenome-
non. So would also have been fem.
inine swimmer.
Vegetables were far less 10 variety
than now. Tomatoes were regarded
with suspicion. They we're called
"love apples" cultivated az garden ,
ornament and suspected Of poisonous ,
tendencies. Canned fruit and vege-
tables We're generally unknown.
Children were more respectful to ;
their elders. Boys were required to ,
bow and girls to courtesy on entering
the schoolroom. BOYS said sir when =
addressed by a grown person, a iuven- :
lie habit now generally dispensed with
and swept away by the march of prog
ress.
Party spirit was more bitter and )
demonstrative than Today. Sworn 6
foes existed in every village, who had