Daily Yellowstone journal., 1884-09-11
THE FIRST PAIR
OF Silk Stockings Made in Merrii
England
Were Worn by Good Queen Bcss-.
"fIt tor fairy''- Tive
Statesmen at swords
p0lnes.
FL. II. A." Ia Chicago Tribune

II. IL. ~. III Nuitust iflhuiitl
From the concert We drove with some
English friends through Hyde park TO the
Health exhibition. or AS the Mater persists
in calling il. "the Health Lift. F" "Ye
Worshipiul Companie If Frame Work
Kniitters" have ON exhibition at the Health
the first pair of silk stockings made In
this country and worn by Queen Eliza.
beth.
The attendant here presented a marked
con,ras, in manner and appearance TO our
wrought iron individual, and seemed 10
take pleasure in giving us all possible in
formation. Pointing 10 case which con.
tanned the famous stockings. he said: Il
tried hard Ia make her majesty have bet.
ter shape to her, but couldn't. and she
must have been spook, for those stock
ings were made to iii her. Sure enough,
the famous hose of deep yellow or old
gold opcnwork were of one size without
the variation of stitch from ankle 10
knee The feet were long and narrow.
and shaped much n the knitted stocking
of today. II is said that these were made
by Ms. Montague, who presenIed them
10 her royal mistress. begging that she
would at least give them trial.
The queen had up 10 this time worn
cloth hose. and living with Lcr counsel
ors. Leicester and Bur.eigh. at The time
she received the gift, she asked them
what they thought Of this new idea in
stockings. Leicester. the ilalierer, looked
at them and. when her majesty said They
seem In, iii for fairy" replied: If
that lie 80 they must suit our queen. who
Is the fairst Of the earth and a fairy queen
indeed. The maiden sovereign. ever
amcnablc 10 fiattery. was much touched
by Lori I.eicesier's gallanlry. hut seeing a
fIown on Burleigh's face she said: What
has my Lord Burleigh To say" and was
not overpleased 10 hear that bluff hui up
right statesman reply that he thought
good honest cloth hose was well enough
for any one. and that her maicsiys wear
ing such things a. silk hose would upset
the cloth hose trade. This remark, al.
though unpleasant 10 the queen, was not
without effect ~ She herself had made
very strict sumpluary laws in which the
people were prohibited expensive and I'm.
necessary embellishments in dress. etc.
II the minister had sioppd there klted
stockings might have been another cen
fury unknown. but. DESTROYS Of clinching
his Wis remark by another, he continued
as he lool ell at the narrow. fragile things.
Besides. these things could not by any
possibilii, fit-fit-ft-" Here the great
Burleigh stammered and could say no
more upon 20 delicate subeci Now
Lord Leicester saw his opportunity. and
advancing to his royal mistress. said.
Most gracious lady deign TO Try" The
queen with dignity then observed thai lin
asmnch as one noble gentleman saith the
stockings would and the other would not
tit, >he was moved by curiosity to try
them ON wiihal. and turning Ia her own
apartment directed the two noblcmen 10
avail, her return. Her majesty was u
little more than an hour struggling with
the new stockings, during which time the
two statesmen. who were at swords points,
walked up and down glaring a, each other.
When the royal mistress did reapptar II
was with a face whose smiles plainly an.
nounced the triumph of vanity over
prudence. Gentlemen. said the queen.
the silkcn hose do tit me right well. and
I like them very much. because they are
pleasant, fine and delicate: and hencefOrth
| will wear no more cloth stockings. This
was not altogether cheerful news for Mrs.
Montague. although she had reached the
summit Of her ambition. for silk stocking,
were not the affair of n few minutes. but
the labor Of weeks In those days. She
had however. been teaching some young
ladies the art and by setting them all dill.
gently To work. which they did night and
day. the queens orders were obeyed.
All this interesting gossip gained from
the good-tempcrcd attendant have before
alluded To, who assured me il was strictly
true In every particular.