The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1895-02-27

ers. These were women. Verify 'there is
no new thing under the sum-"
Comfit boxes were great signs of ostenta-
ton, and were the rage in France before
snuff boxes took their place. ALI carried
them on all occasions. and when the Duke
of Guise was shot at BIois his comfit-box was
found in his hama Chaucer's "Persones
Tale" in the chapter de Superbia," tells,
as we dare not to what lengths pride and
Improperly in dress were carried in his day,
particularly by the men. In France it was
bad enough. A modest Italian could not
travel there in the 18th century, said an
Italian author, without being shocked by
seeing men whose clothes rather exposed
their nakedness than hid it," But in Eng
land it was afterwards worse, and our coun-
trymen gloried III their shame.
The Queen of Charles IL. introduced the
immodest custom of completely barring the
bosom and shoulders. But this was the
reign of harlotry and Righteousness Good
old Richard Baxter thought 1t necessary to
write the preface for book called "A Just
and Seasonable Reprehension of Naked
Breasts and Shoulders :" A later work on
the topic "New Instructions unto Youth for
their Behavior etc., had frOntiSpiece of
Virtue and Vice. Virtue was lady in black
velvet hood with white neckerchief over
her neck. Vice had no kerchief, her stays
were cut low to expose her charms, and gro
tesque patches disfglred her face.
1t was otherwise with the frail beauties Of
ancient times. Even Poppies, SO Tacitus
tells us, covered a part of her face, not from
modesty it is true, but from art, that she
might more strongly excite the magma
ton.
A "buck" of about ninety years ago is thus
described by satirical writer: "A coat of
light green with sleeves too small for the arms
and buttons too big for the sleeves; pair
of Manchester fine stuff breeches, with
out money IN the pockets; clouded silk
stockings, but no legs; a clup of hair behind,
larger than the head that carries it; hat of
the size of sixpense OF block not worth a
farthing."
Milk and wine have each been used for
the bath of beauty. Poppea bathed in asses
milk. Modern young ladies have had to be
wrinkles begin TO appear hey have bathed
in wine, white wine by preference, because
it's astringency reduced these tell tales.
Lord Shrewsbury demanded all increased
allowance from the Government when he
guarded Mary Queen of Scots, because of the
great expence to which that royal lady's
wine baths came.
In vain from age to age, have sumptuary
laws been levelled against ostentation and
luxury in food and clothing, The love of
liberty has proved stronger than the love OF
monopoly. 1T is no ones business how l
spend my money" say the persons who own
it. This is quite true it we make one ex-
ception. The moralist has the right to crit
icise the method if 1t should appear to be
against good taste and public morality.
Liberty allows us to do many things that
are not the common good. And it is from
the lash OF the satirist and the increasing
good sense Of the community, and not from
legislation, that moral improvements are
brought about. Vices are killed by scorn
and ridicule and public disapprobation, and
not by act of parliament.
It is competent therefore, for anyone who
can afford tito spend a thousand guineas on
orchids to adorn single banquet, but it is
also within the right OF the mOralist or polit-
ica economist to enquire if extravaganza
such as this is for the pubic good or evil.