The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-31


figure wears an unmistakable corset tightly
laced and stiffened by two busks in front,
just like the garment worn by Swiss peas
ants at the present day. In the ancient
writings, too, a slender waist is spoken OF
as a sign of beauty. Even Chaucer speaks
admiringly of "a woman with waist like
weasel.
Now, however, we come to more sensible
times. In the Fourteenth century Joseph,
emperor Of Austria, noted autocrat,
passed a law forbidding the use of the cor
set in all nunneries and places where girls
!. were educated. He also called in the church
70 1nsRp him, and TO excommunicate all
a. tire the accursed garment. The
CdII4 ---.-ians, startled into activ
ity " Clerks offity, produced mum.
n.'s's ok this evening. n .ne evlis th oi
s'e'' r----------s---- Aeeo sAohi
disfranchise yourself in tb
Catheu eiecticng kegiatfite an op-
posite w yer Sing, and to her broad
waist VI apomination, and il is said
that du-AY Yher reign waists were about
th' to6h inches in circumference. AS well
a. Introducing the artistic and becoming
Medicis collar, which we all know so well,
she also invented a corset herself, which at
first glance might be taken for an instru-
ment of torture OF the holy inquisition. 1t
is made Of steel as strong as armor. cut into
open work pattern, over which velvet was
sewn. It had two parts like a warriors
back and breastplate, on two hinges, and
fastened at the other side with pin like
an ordinary box. At the front and back
were two bars Of steel. from which the
dress hung Considering this there is no
kl..A I<<~Ir
uncomfortable. Whalebone stays were first
used In the time of Elizabeth. James was
30 pleased with them that he ordered all his
courtiers, male and female, to wear them.
The corset has never been absent from
female attire ice the time of Elizabeth.
in spite of all the dress reformers.
In Charles IFS time the dresses were very
low, Of Dutch origin. The skirt was tied
back and an apron worn. This fashion was
brought from Portugal by Catherine Of
Braganza
In Anne's time a curious eccentricity was
seen In muffs being carried by men, The
hoop was worn at various periods from the
time Of Elizabeth, when it was called a
fRrthingale IL was always inconvenient
and WAS never worn In carriage. 1t has
existed in our day in the hideous orinolines,
and to some extent as a crinolette and even
the 10 called dress improver is survival
of it.
TIE MAcARoNIEs.
In George HIS time it was usual to have
the head shaved TO wear wig, but occasion
ally tetes, as they were called, were built
up on the head; as dressing these was long
and expensive process, they were left un
touched for long time. A writer describes
a visit he paid TO his aunt: While he was
there the hairdresser came and examined
the huge tete and asked when it had been
last refreshed. only nine weeks age" said
the old lady. "Well, that is about as long
as it oaa be in hot weather." replied the
artist. The writer goes ON to describe the
proceedings, which are too disgusting TO
repeat AS may be imagined from the hair
being left for two months without the head
being washed.
In l775 arose a curious club called the
Savoir Vivre club, which prided itself on
its introduction of foreign cookery into
London, in opposition TO the Beefsteak
club. One of their dishes was macaroni,
and the club came to be called the Maca-
roni club. The members were the extreme
dandies or Washers Of the time. On the
head was toy cooked hat, gold laced, but
toned and tasseled, over the hair fashioned
into foretop two feet in height above the
head, with numerous side curls and club
bed tail He wore tight striped silk
breeches, equally tight coat and waist
coat, gorgeously embroidered, which kept
his frail figure together He carried long
cane. such rs lord mayors footmen now
bear. He wore watch in each fob and
pound of seals hanging out. The maca.
ronies rode out In the park on little ponies,
nj . 20 10 h.. oil In nala
die" The female maSasonies had their
heads top heavy with hair, on the top OF
which they wore toy windmills, ships,
coaches and four, etc Their dress was as
tight ~ the mems, and they dragged after
them long train, giving them the appear
ance Of wheeling crocodile.
CRINoLINEs
The ladies of the regency were dressed in
most plain fashion, as owing to the war
with France we were cut of from French
modes. They wore straight pclisses OF
striped silk-summer and winter alike the
gowns were very thin and were trimmed
with tRwdry ribbons.
In George Tvs time we see a revulsion
TO the hoop, and the women were dressed
IN high waists and long straight gowns.
At the early part of this century the
dress was most extravagant. The ladies'
skirts were short, and both sexes wore
enormous hats. From that time the pres
ent dress has been steadily developing, the
only important change in mems dress hav
ing been the alteration from Knee breeches
TO trousers.
As mn,y Of you will remember, about
1850 TO 1884 or 40. crinolincs were worn
Then arose a craze, OF which you have
heard. Of making the Bloomer costume
general. Theoretically, IL is good thing
To get rid of the heavy skirts, but il re
quircs great care in introducing reform.
that they are not repulsive; this the
Bloomer WAS, and was 40 heaped with rid
icule that il quickly died. .-Ambrosc Car
penter. VI. u.