The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1907-06-07
DRESS OF THE ESKIMO.
Made by the Women From the skins
of Northern Animals.

of Northern Animals.
The chief material of the clothing of
the Eskimo is the skin of the reindeer
which is used in various stages of pei
age or tanning. Fine, short haired
summer skins, especially those of does
and fawns, are used for making dress
garments and underciothes. The hcav
lest winter skins furnish extra warm
Jackets for cold weather. The whits
spotted skins of the tame Siberian rein
deer are especially valued for full
dress jackets
The skins Of the white mountaib
sheep, white and blue fox, wolf, dog
ermne and lynx are sometimes made
into clothing. Underjackets of elder
duck skins are often pressed into serv
ice. Sealskln dressed with the hair OF.
is used only for brcecheS and boots.
and for those rarely. OF late years
drilling and calico have been intro.
duced into the makeup of some Of the
minor garments.
The dress of the men consists Of u
loose hooded frock without opening eX-
cept at the neck and wrists. Ths
reaches just over the hips and very
rarely TO midthigh. where it is cut OFT
square and usually confined by girlle
at the waist. Under this garment is
worn similar one of lighter skin and
sometimes without Il hood The thighs
are clad in one or two pairs of tight
n.ting knee brcechcS, rather loose, but
ntted to the shape Of the leg They are
very low in front. but are much higher
behind, sometimes rs high as the small
of the back. They are held in place by
girdlc or thong around the waist and
are usually fastened below the knee
over the boots with a drawstring.
On the legs and feet are worn. first. a
pair Of long dcerskin stockings, with
the hair inside, then slippers Of tanned
soaskin, in the bottom which is spread
a layer Of whalebonc shavings and out
silc pair Of close fitting boots, held in
! place by string around the ankle,
which reaches above the knee and
| ends with rough edge covered by the
breerhes. Dress boots often end IN an
! ornamental border. with drawstrinc
! iust below the knee The boots are of
| reindeer skin. with white sealskin
solcs fDr winter and dry weather. but
! In summer waterproof boots OF white
whale. kin are worn Overshocs OF the
same material, reaching just above the
ankles. are sometimes worn over the
! winter boots.
The women wear tight fitting deer
skin pantaloonS. with the hair next the
skin. and outside of these similar
/ pair made Of the skins from deer legs,
with the hair out. and having soles Of
scllsl,in, but no ankle strings. The
womens pantaloons. like those OF the
mon. are fastened with q girdle just
above The hips II appears that they
do not stay mp very we'll as the wo-
men are continually htching them up
and tightening their girdles, like some
old sailor.
Until they reach manhood the boys
wear uantaloons like the women, but
their Jackets arc cut just like those OF
the men.
TIE we'll 10 do Eskimos generally owl
several complete suits OF clothes and
present a neat appearance when not
engaged in dirty work. The poorer
/ classes wear one suit for all occasions
\ until IL becomes shabby. New clothes
are seldom put on till winter. The
outer frock is not often worn In tho
lglu. or hut home. being usually taken
off before entering the room.
AZ present there is no such thing as
an Eskimo tailor. for the women OF
each Eskimo household usually make
.lsthe garments OF all the members OF the
family. Not only this, but the Eskimos
are extremely conservative in the mat
ter Of changes I'm the style Of their raj
mcat and respond very slowly to thu
modcrnizing influences in this particu
ar which have reached their neighbor
hood
Shut Him Oh.
/ "wha, are you taking for your coldf
Nothing"
"Nothlngi But. my dear fellow
. "Nothin1. I say. not even advice
Fine day, isn't ity'-Illustrated Bits