The Newtown bee., 1888-06-15
Bellies and Beaux of the Olden Times.

In "Amcrica," by J.S.Buckingham, an English traveller who made the tour of the United States over 10 years ago, pub lished in this country by the Harpers in 1911, we find the following interesting picture of the fashionable gentlemen and ladies of the Revolutionary period in his observations on Baltimore. In a retro spcct taken by an OctOgenarian of the city, who retains vivid recollection of his younger days and carries about in his costume and appearance the relics of the olden times, there is a striking pict ure of the society of Baltimore in it's hal cyon days of fashion which is worth re- beating. The writer is speaking of the avenue of Market street, just at the ter imitation of the war of Independence, about 60 years before.
 ''This avenue was enlivcned with ap- partitions of grave matrOns and stir ring damsels, moving erect ill stately transit, like the wooden and pastebOard figures of a puppet-show; our present grandmOthers, arrayed i'll gorgeous bro cade and taffeta, luXuriantly displayed over hoops, with comedy bodices, laced around that ancient piece of armOr, the stays, disclosing most precious waists and, with sleeves that clung to the arm as far as the elbow, where they took a graceful leave in rutfles that stood off like the feathers of bantam. And such faces as they bore along with them! so rosy, so spirited and sharp with the hair all drawn back over cushion until it lifted the eyebrows, giving an amaZ- ingly fierce and suspicious tone to the countenance and falling in cataracts up- on the shoulders. Then they stepped away with such mincing gait, in shoes of many colOrs, with formidable points to the toes and high and tOttering heels fancifully cut in wood; their tOwer-built hats garnished with tall feathers, that waved aristocratically backward at each step, as if they took pride in the slow pace of the wearer.
 In the train of these gOodly groups came the beauX and gallants, who up held the chivalry of the age; cavaliers of the old school, full of starch and pow der; most of them the iron gentlemen o1 the Revolution, with leather faces; ole campaigners renowned for long stories fresh from the camp, with their military erectness and daredevil sWagger; prop CT, roystering blades, who had just go out of the harness and begun to atfec the manners of civil life. Who but they
 jolly fellows, fiery and loud, with sterl glances of the eye and a brisk turn of tho head and swash-buckler strut of def ance, like gamecOcks; all ill three-cOr l Htltl lldUS 'liitt " lSS di'l coats, with narrow capes and marvelOu
 long backs, with the pockets on each hi]
 and small clothes that hardly reached tn
 knee; striped stockings, with great buck
 les in their shoes and their long stee l. chains that hung conceitedly half way t
 the knee, with seals ill the shape of
 sounding-board to a pulpit. And the
 walked with such stir, striking thei
 canes so hard upon the pavement as t make the little town ring again. Ther
 was such relish about it, particular,
 when one of these weather-beaten gal | lants accosted lady on the street, wit n a bow that required a whole side pave n ment to make it in, with the scrape c l. his foot and his cane thrust with fioui
 ish under his left arm till it projected bt
 hind, along with his queue and nothin l. could be more piquante than the lady a
 she reciprocated the salutation with n courtesy that seemed to carry her int e the earth and her chin bridled to he ,e breast, such volume of dignity