Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-02-28
ROBES OF PEERLESS.
How the Titled Women Were TO Bc
Dressed Under William the Fourth.

A peeress'> robe of state f,llcws ir the
order of degree of that Of her husband,
but for coron .tions there are often spec
ial orders issued, as on the occasion when
William " and his Queen were crowG-
ed. Then it was ordained they were 20
have ''surcoats or kirtles (kirrles meaning
robes) all crimson velvet, close bodied
and clasred before, edged Cr bOr]ercd
with mineyCr pure two irchCs broad,
and scalloped down the sides from below
the girdle, and slopcd ANY, into
train proportionah.c to the lcd-th Of the
robe or mantn for each degree. VIZ,
about third oil. TIE sleeve of the sur.
coat also 70 be Of crimson velvet about
five inches deep, scallopad at the bottom,
edged with miuever pure fringed with
gold or silver. The caps of their coro-
nets % be all of crimson velvet, turned
up with ermine, with button and tasSel
o: gold or silver on the top, suitable to
to the fringe of their sleeves"
The length OF the train WAS regulated
by the rank of the wearer, thus: That
of a baroness might be three feet on the
ground, of viScountess one and quarter
yards long, a countess one and IL half
yards, marchloness one and three
fourths long, and a duchess three yards"
"The petticoats to be of cloth of silver
or any other white stuff, either laid cr
embroidered, according to each PERSONS
| fancv."
"The mantle to hang back, being fast
ened on each shoulder with cordons of
silver and suitable To their fringe, with
tassels of the same hanging down on
each side Of the waist. The sarcCat or
kirtle to be open before, that the petit
coat may appear"
Then followed still more minute
dire tions as to the order of peeresses.
"The baronesse's crimson velvet caps
are to be furIed with minev'T pure pow
dered, with two bars or rows of ermine,
the mantle to be edled round with min-
ever pure two inches in breadth. the
train three feet on the round, and the
} co-onet according t. their degree; viz.
circle with six pearls UPON the same,
not raised upt points, The countesses
! robes or mantles were to be the same as
heretofore, only the cape was to be pow
dered with three rows of eimlne ed2lngs
thre inches in breadth; the train one
/, yard and half; the coronet composed
with small Strawberries above the rim.
; The viscountesses' robes or mantlIs were
! to be like those of the baronesseS, only
the cape powdered with two rows and a
half of ermine, the edging of the mantle
tw inches as before, and the tram one
: yard and quarter, the ouIunet W De
b. according to their degree, viz. a rim or
+, circle with pearls thereon, sixteen in
+. number, and not raised upon points.
The marchionesses' ropes or mantles
: were also to be as before, only the cape
) was to be powdered with three inches
and half of ermine edgings four inches
in breadth the train one yaId three
I quarters; the coronet to be composed OF
1 four strawberry leaves, four pearls raised
upon points of the same height as the
leaves alternately above the rim, and
the caps of crimson velvet, turned up
with ermine, tassel OF gold at the top.
The precision with which all this is laid
, down show the Importance attached to
the several items. Cdssells Family
Magazine.