Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-01-12
English Dress.
TBy Dr.. F. B. Robinson.l

eSted IN two thfngS-the people
and the country 1t is quite re-
markable that favorable impress
sion of the people enhances the
view of the country. One of the
first observations a foreigner makes
in strange land is the dress of the
people. The costume which often
appears distinctly national Eng
land has been one Of the central
meats Of the commercial world for
more than thousand years. It's
natural facility for a sea-faring life
has induced journeys from early
times to all the parts. of the world.
These ship s have returned with all
the rich and varied cloths of
different lands to England to dis
tribute them over the island in
exchange for tin or other native
commodity England has thus in
past centuries ruled the world in
dress-especially in the richness
and costliness Of the material. It's
ancient dress has always been
pompous and full of the red tape
of ceremony. The dress of its
kings and queens and nobility has
been beyond description in magni-
fcience and wealth. All the world
has heard of the spotless ermine
mantles of English judges, of wigs
of the gentry and the flowing
robes of official dignity. The cap
and gown" of learned men is yet
common talk of college students
and one can see to-day at Gray's
Inn Fields the English Barrister
strutting from court to court wear
ing his heavy, quaint wig, termi-
mating in a pigtailed cue. Ralf of
the mystic beauty of old English
paintings lies in the gaudy color. of
the superhuous flowing robes, the
tinselled sheen of silver and
colossal powdered wigs which
pompously ornament some insight
fcant person born with cushions
on. An old chronicle states that
fhe shoes worn by Sir Walter
Raleigh on celebrated days were
worth $4,000 and that other parts
of his dress were similarly extra
vigant. 1t is said that men wore
coats so bedecked with jewels and
precious stones that it cost them
$500, far few hours wearing in a
social gathering. The field Of the
cloth of gold of Cardinal Woolsey's
days need only be mentioned.
But these days of excessive robes
and cloth are nearly gone The
inovations in every era Of progress
have broke the iron hand of
tradition. Personality has become
more prominent, dress more
secondary and each garment has
been cut and shorn until it serves
some function of usefulness with
out in the least depreclating its
propriety or lessening its utility.
The above remark fifty applies to
that wonderful garment the hoof-
petticoat, combined garment con-
structed to suit the ladies of easy
virtue in the courts of bygone
days. The betterment of public
morals and the Improvement in
taste has driven it from the land.
1t only fingers now in the treasur-
ed pictures of the past. OF course
royalty has much to do in govern
ing the fashion and style of dress.
But the English nobility are be-
coming remarkably subdued in
costume. It is rich but plain. It
is becoming as the years progress
shorn of the tinselled ornament,
lacking the armlets and gaudy
colors and superhuous flowing
cloaks which in the past distin-
guished the royal dress from
citizens. One would often not
know the Prince of Wales by his
dress from ordinary citizens and
the writer has seen him even in
the courts of Berlin visiting his
royal relatives when he would not
be taken for any official parsonage
so subdued was his dress. In
Hyde Park and other places of
fashionable promenades, the royal
ladies may be seen in very plain
dress with quiet colors. Distinct
professional dress is not to be seen
in England. Black is the general
favorite. The clergy dress in black
with the white neck tie. They use
the white or black gown in service.
English physicians dress the most
plain of any profession but some
lecture yet in the ancient cap and
gown. Soldiery must always
have distinct dress in color, shin
ing buttons, gaudy aumlets and
tassels of colored ensigns to mark
the rank and profession. This
idea becomes more impressive to
man when he sees a scotch High
land soldier walking through
London with low shoes and stock
ings, wearing no pants at all, his
bare legs red with cold having on
only a kilt which reaches some six
inches above, tbe knees Of cource