The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-02-22

anu TcctpLiOuS III an cNculnS uItSS tOuSlStllS
OF black satin knee brooches, a velvet t~ailless
coat aud a watered silk vest. Black silk
stockings, fancy pumps after the fashion OF
the old knickerbocker shoe, with buckles of
FURNISHED silver, complete the attire. Plain
linen shirts, standing collars and white ties.
the same as worn with the c~lawhammer suit
were made permissible, although three of the
reformers were strongly in favor of the be-
ruff1ed shirt such as our fathers wore in col
onial days.
When the seven resolute reformers APP
peared on the glistening ball room floor after
the other guests had assembled it naturally
created a tremendous sensation. and there
was said to be not a single pair Of marched
eyebrows on all the petrifed gazers at the
stockinged but painless calves. When the
first effect of the rude shock had worn away,
however, tho reformers found themselves the
f~avorites of the evening. The young ladies
froze to them, the old ladies dotted on them,
and the %trousered gents had to take back
seats. Knickerbockers, silk stockings and
tailless coats were the sole topics of CONVEX
sation. But the results of this daring inno-
walton were not confined to the guests at the
ball, for when the news leaked out New York
dudedom received such a paralyzing shock
lis it will not S DON forget.
Talks with society men in Detroit devel-
oped the fact that the knickerbocker idea is
one that is looked on with great favor
here, and while the city is slow to adopt
radical innovations, still there is ground for
belief that if some venturesome individ-
mol u-ara RI start tho hall r0iliDO IL
would soon become popular. 1t is a fact
that society men here are more robust than
is generally he case, and could make the
change without much fear Of consequences.
A society man talked very freely On the sub
iect. He said:
"Of course I am in Iavor Of knee breeches,
and so is every one who has any apprecia-
ton of the artistic and picturesque. But l
do not think the fashion will become general
because Americans 10 not take kindly to
radical reforms in dress. The advantages Of
knee breaches as q part of the evening cos
tunes are many. In the first place, it would
do away with the funeral-looking dress suit
now i'll vogue and give gentlemen a distinc-
lively evening attire, just as ladies have.
Then it would lessen the awkward appear
ance which IL mans legs have when he sits
Town with the present style of trousers.
Didn't yop ever notice the stiff and ungrace-
ful look which the bottom OF a mans trousers
take when he sits? You see his ankles and
they never present Il pleasing sight unless he
wears well-Atting boots. Then OF course
there is the obvious advantage that knlcker-
bockers would never bag at the knee, and u
traveller could carry a dozen pair OF them as
easily as IL single pair Of trousers. Men with
very small legs need not be afraid Of making
themselves ridiculous in knee ~breeches, be-
cause they could have recourse to padding
and give themselves rs symmetrical an APP
pcarance as though nature had done the
work. / am sure, however, that if knlcker-
bockers came into general use it would not
fail to encourage athletic training and de-
velop much finer legs than we usually see on
American men,"
A Woodward avenue society goer, who re-
ioices in physical plumpness, remarked: 1T
would be the best thing that ever happened
I'd like to wear them all the time instead OF
these Tapping things" and he cast a dis
gusted look at his wide trousers. "But them
he continued, these fellows with attenuated
limbs kick so hard against If, I'm afraid il
will be IA hard matter to Introduce the fash
ion,n and his plump features took on an ex-
preston of sadness.
AS in a controversy all sides Of a question
should be fairly heard, it was determined 10
hunt up one of these thin-legged dudes and
get a full statement Of the objections Of his
set to the knickerboekcrs 1t is II ditficul;
m;ttpr TO get within hailing distance Of the
genuine dude in the City Of ,io Straits
TAero are IL few here, but a5 IL general thin.
they don't flourish in this climate. The nj
appears to be too bracing, and the very acme
OF a dude, after a short residence here, begins
to get color in his cheeks, and acquire flesh
in a manner that is very discouraging. And
all this In spite OF in~defatigable attention 70
cigarettes, seltzer and other violent dissipa-
ton. Finally, after a great deal OF exertion,
ono Of the most promising specimens of q
dude oxtlnt in this city was run to earth.
He had watcry eyes, a Ratchet face and the
wide legs of his pantaloons Topped around
legs that appear ed to be- about tho size Of
the ordinary broom-handle.
'Sbow myself in knickerbockcrsf oh, no,
couldn't think of it, deah boy. Very bad
form, indeed; very bad form TO appear in
such a costume. don't you know" which