The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-07-21
Breeches.

pants From the time that Adam dis
covered that the world was without a
tailor, and he hadn't any clothes, the
aim of each masculine has been to get
apparel which will set off his form to
the best advantage. The style and
quality of pants are mark of civiliza-
tiony for in barbarous lands nothing but
q clout hides the nakedness of the saw
age. The style of trousers changes
with each generation; indeed, until the
beginning of the present century our
modern pants were not worn, and knee
brooches were in vogue. George Wash
ington, the Father of his Country, wore
clothes like the base ball players of the
present day. and wouldn't now receive
an electoral vote should he appear in
his full-dress suit.
When Daniel Webster went to Dart
mouth TO be examined for college, he
had on blue jeans, homespun breaches,
as tough as the hide of rhinocerous.
Then, as now, it wasn't the pants that
made the man.
The foppery of dress was at its height
in England during the reign of Henry
I'LL. and The reigns of Louis XIV, XIV.
XVI of France were famous for eX-
travagance in attire. The mobiles wore
what was called ''bombasted' breeches,
which were pulled out from the hips to
the knee and tied with gorgeous rib
bons or bands of gold. The richest
materials were used in making these
garments and thousands of dollars of
the people were squandered in the pur-
chase of magnificent breecheS for the
Kings favorites.
Pantaloons first came into use in
Venice during the fifteenth century.
They were worn by deyotees of the
patron saint. Pantaloons, and were
called by the Italians pantalini. To
don them was an evidence of foolish
ness or buffoonery. and the individual
who appeared in pantaloons much re-
sembled clown. They were nothing
more than long stockings, of one piece
from the hip to the knee, very tightly
fitting, and frequently the legs of diff
ferent hues
The Saxon ancient breeches were
very similar to these, and were rendered
more attractive to the barbarian eye of
che early Teutons by bars of variegated
,colors.
The pantalini of the Italians were in
PRODUCED in England and France during
the sixteenth century, and after con-
siderable period of disuse were worn
as full dress during the reign of George
Ill
During the Plantagenet reigns the
dong garments hid the brooches from
view, and hose completely incased the
legs. The breaches of the Celts and
Saxons were not worn by the Romans,
who would not discard the toga, the
ancient and time-honorcd costume of
the race.
Brooches in the strict meaning of the
term-for trousers is the only proper
word to express the existing style of
wearing apparel from the hips to the
anklc-were worn by many of the ma
tions Of ancient times, notably the
Modes and Persians. Phrygians, Gauls
and Teutons. The ''bombastes"
Ibreeches were introduced by the Nor
mans into England, and Henry VIII.
aiways appeared in puffedout breeches.
In The reign of Charles |. they were
worn loose to the knee and ended in a
fringe or row of ribbons. After the
restoration of the petticoat breeches of
the French began to be worn, and were
the mode for some years. The plain,
tight knee-breeches, as worn by our
forefathers who eft into the Revolu-
tion." were introduced by William Ill,
and the final change to the modern
trousers began in 1872, in England, al
though in Oxford and Cambridge col
Ileges an order was issued during that
year that all students appearing in
ltrousers should be considered as alb
sent. Mrs. Siddons, the great actress,
wore trousers when she performed
<Imogen' in London in 1902.
Wellington adopted trousers in the
British army, and they were for long
time called Wellington trousers.
1t was good age for tailors two hun
dred years ago, and they were more i'm
.portant personages then than now
Fine brooches were in demand and sole
for fabulous prices.
The real cause for the change in the
mode of dressing, especially in the STYLE
of pantaioons, is to be attributed to thu
influence of the French Revolution
when all the ancient ideas regarding
dress were buried in the ruins an(
blood of the licentious and extravagan
mobility. For almost one hundred
years people of the civilized earth, will
the exception of Turkey. have beef
wearing trousers which are now in use
They are more comfortable and dur
able than the costumes of the past ant
become equally well the fat and tn
lean legs of this generation. Dr. Mar,
Walker, the strong minded female, ha
stepped out from the ranks of her SCI
and shown her appreciation of man.
pants by wearing them herself. Tn,
style from tight to loose brceche
changes every year or two il
order to give the tailors n chance
But knee reeches are seen onl'
inplays and are to be found in no othe
place than in the shop of the costumer
VIII the knee-breeches of our ances
tors ever come into vogue again? Fo
many reasons it is to be hoped the
will. Our trousers scrape up all tn
dirt and become frayed at the bottom
The knee breeches set off fine calf t.
the best advantage, and pretty hose ca
be worn where it will show. Boots ar
rapidly going out of fashion, and no,
nearly everybody wears shoes on &C
count of the Inconvenience OccasiOne