The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-05-29
TRADE IN THE LONG AGO.

TRADE IN THE LONG AGO.
rhs Habits and Customs Of Western Eco
pie Forty Years Ago.
The habits and customs Of the people |
forty years ago in the West were quite
different from the style OF this
modern age. In the matter OF clothing
and house-furnishing the difference was
very great and consequently the assort-
ments of the dry-goods merchants have
undergone q corresponding change
since that early period. In this age OF
rapid transit and fast mails it does not
take long for Eastern fashions and
STYLES to become familiar in the West,
and there is but little difference between
the well-dressed lady of the East, and
tho stylishly attired Western woman
The same similarity of clothing is also
noticeable for mems wear-fashions
East and West so closely correspond.
Forty years ago the spinning-wheel
was in vogue in almost every Western
farmhouse, and the women folks
spun the wool from their home-clip
fieeces. It was then taken to the near
est "fulling MILL" carried and woven
into cloth for mems wear, aud sort OF
flannel or linsey for women's wear.
For summer clothing, garments made
from flax were worn, homespun and
homemade, of grayish color. Those
who are familiar with the customs OF
the West forty years ago will at once
recall the flax clothing worn by men,
whose usual summer attire was pair
of linen pantaloons and a pair OF broad
saddle-girth srspenders, flax shirt,
straw hat and stogy shoes or boots.
Nos. 9, 10 and IL were the favorite
sizes for boots and shoes. During the
summer period young men and boys
mostly went barefoot, and. IN conse-
auence, they had broad understand
ina. which the SIT allcr sizes Of shoes in
this more fashionable age would not ac-
commodate The overcoat of tina: peri
cd wa; very different from the moosrn
ssyle and fit of this later date. The
cloth was heavy and sorviceable, home
spun, and fulled at the mill, leaving i
sort of light irab color. 1t was made
long. and over the shoulder was laye
of from three to four capes, the bottom
one being the longest, and the succeed
inc ones gradually tapering OF. Brlsh
brass buttons, about the size OF the or
binary silver quarter dollar, were tn
only decoration. Tie lining was
homemade flannel or linsey. Their
were no braids, nor silk scrges, no
fancy sleeve-linings, such rs are use
at the present day. Ordinary brow
sheeting or a common glazed muslin
were good enough at that time 10
sleeve-linings.
) The gentleman of that period wor
broadcioth. The fancy suitings OF Gas
simeres, worsteds and silk mixture
: now SO Common werc then unknown
the West The intermediate grade bt
; tween tie homespun and broadclot
was Kentucky jeans of a blue and ais
a butternut color. Black and blue WEI
the favorite shades in broadcloth. Th
well dressed man had Sunday an
holiday suit of black brOadc.oth for co;
, and trousers and for vest, black satil
Shirt and square bosom, with hiS
= standing collar and high black stock
black silk neck-handkerchief A hiS
. black-silk hat, broad brim, or dra
color fur beaver OF similar shape, an
a pairof we'll BACKED calfskin boots an
= behold the well-dressed man half a cen
q ury ago.
+ DO you not see him As your memol
. travels backward, as with shinlr
!. black from head to foot he seemed
. grand as an Emperor to your boyis
- eyesP And then for party dress
: tine summer wear, blue broadclo
coat with high stiff collar. swallow-t.
= skirts and bright brass buttons. III
~ vest and trousers of plain India nank
h gold brown color and rutlled shll
4 bosom. How stately and digniiied
II with hat in hand the gentleman OF Il
~ ..long ago" appeared in the parlo
n and with perfect ease OF manner gree
- ed the assembled guests.
The broadcloths which the mercha
70 kept in that early period have Civ
~ place to cassimeres and worsteds
q modern date; the black satin for ves'
~ the black silk cravats. the India ma
w. kins. the frill shirt-bosomS, have all d
=, appeared. The modern merchant Sc
- Shirt, ties. scarfs and clothing read
- made, and there are but few calls
:, country stores for Irish linens -Justt