Morning journal and courier., 1893-03-18
THE FLEETING SHOW.
Some of Hts Facts and Fancies. Written for the JOURNAL AND CoURIER.l
 MAcrTrTr rNF FIppTRJFS


 "For thousands of years," says writer in the London Spectator" one half of the world has grumbled at the other half's love of fnery." The writer Is voioing mascu line discopt tent with feminine extravagsnoe in dress, but is himself recklessly extrava- for "thousands of years" the love of inery has been displayed only by the woman half of the world, and all the grumbling been done by the man half.
 "Spear-half" and spindle half," as our Saxon ancestors used to call them-who dsres claim that sll the foliies of fashion have haen adopted and all the extravaganza shown by the spindies, while the spears objected and remonstrated? No one who has read History, ancient or modern, sacred or profans, or the newspapers of the dsy; or who Las mingled ever so little in soci- sty; or even looked upon it's various duties and functions from safe distance. The extravaganza of women In matters of dress is, in point of fact, taking the world over, equalled by that of men. The ! mere incorporation into our language, from time to time, of new word expressive of th@ man devoted to his clothing sufficient iy proves this. The terms "fop," "beau," 'tJessAmy," "Macaroni, ""smart," ""swell," Handy" and, later than thess, ''dude." 1 record msn's continued love of fine clothes, but where is there 8 corresponding list of names that have been applied to wemeni l The savage chief adorns himself with 1 paint and feathers, and his squaw, in 8 1 tattered blanket, wcrks ornamental devices with porcupine quills and beads upon his leggipgs, and pouch, aud buckskin shirt. i The Queen of Sheba donb lese went back to her own country with good many new kinks as to the latest styles obtained from her royal and lavish entertainer. If she was beyond measure 1 is 1t not reasonable to suppose that Solo mon, to whom all the kings of the earth l brought raiment among their other offer ings. exceeded them all in the splendor of his attirea Henry III of France spent a good part of his time in "prinkipg." Every
 night he drew on gloves to keep his hands
 white and smooth, and cloth dipped in
 essence was laid over his face to improve
 the delicscy of his complexion. His hair,
 dyed jet black, was curled with the greatest
 care. His eyebrows were painted, and
 cosn cites applied to his face. His gar
 ments of state were of cloth-of gold,
 covered with embroidery, and thickly set
 with all manner of precious stones. He
 wished, however, to have his wife appear
 as we'll as himself, and often dressed hel hair with his own royal hands, or devised
 and cut out for her some sweet fancy oi
 his own in a tea gown or dinner dress. Ht
 may have been somewhat of "sissy man" but he was not selfish
 3 Queen Elizabeth, who was dear lovel of drees, inherited this taste from her il So&b xyho loved to ta hi,
 rotund person with the richest fabrics ant
 the eostliest jewels. At his first meeting ? with Francis I. we are told that he woTt e cloth of-goId over ross-colo1ed velvet,
 collar of rubies and pearls in alternat . rows, and the jewel of the order of St
 George spaIkled upon his breast. Hi boots were of yellew leather and his hat o black velvet with white feather curlinl @ over the brim, and beneath 1t was broa' i band of rubies, diamonds, emeralds ant
 pearls.
 It was a French duke of the 6fteent s century who wore a remarkable robe upo
 which was embroidered the words an :, music of a song, the notes being made Q pearls, five hund1ed and ifty-eight bein d required for this purpose.
 n Shakespeare represents Hero as being in "a terested in description of the cut of tn Duchess of Milan's gown, but 1t is c
 
 lying s'ten nights awake, carving the fast
 ion of new doublet." o To return to real percentages, there wa 6 stBeau" Brummeil. the ''dressiest" of mol Q tals, and the oracle of fashion and ct :. qustte. He led the 400 in all matters ( ID taste, associated with the nobility on equi h terms, dissipated fortune in so doini g. and left behind him the imperishable men s ory of his unapproachable neckcloth. HI : predecessor was "Beau" Nash, noted ft X, ssstyle," audacity and white hat. W of often, when we think of ''good Quee % Bess," recall her ruff and farthingale, an ,0 picture Mary Stuart with the pretty bit m head gear the shape of which still bsa ~ her name, but this is because we alwa, i'd see them so portrayed and not becau
 their entire personality csnters in ruff
 6 cap.
 ht It is not necessary to go on mulHplyir ce examples. Only one more is offered ar