Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-16
PARIS PAPER TELLS Of
CR|NOuNE'S INVENTION
Says Assistant in Drapery
Shop Patented Petticoat
With Steel Hoops.
Correspondence OF The Star.


PARIS. August 1. 1910
Some interesting reflections have
been suggested to a Paris newspaper
by the announcement that the inventor
OF the crinoline. a man named Joseph
Thomas. has died recently in the United
States. Thomas was a Frenchman, in
deed Partisan. but he emigrated 20
America as far back as 1916, and the
journal In question argues that as
fashions rarely come over from the other.
side Of the Atlantic the claim that he.
was the real inventor OF the hoop can
scarcely be established
AS a matter OF fact. Il attributes
the invention to certain august per-
son who lately died at Togny-aux-
Boeufs. in the neighborhood OF Chal-
|ons-sur-harne. and who. II states, took
out a patent in France for a petticoat
with steel springs. This was the
which has left such a deplorable MEM
DRY behind it,
The person in question was an as.
sistant In drapery shop when he con-
coat with steel hoops. He took out
his patent, but did not work IL him
self. as he disposed of IL for $500. The
newspaper adds that he had a rival.
never suspected. This was none other
than the executioner Heindenrech. who
fiourished during the second empire,
and who was predecessor OF NJ.
Peibler.
He.ndenrech was a skilled artisan.
and as his grim profession allowed him
plenty of leisure. he turned IL to ac-
county by manufacturing crinolines.
His creations had a very fair sue
cess" IL appears. '.and the number OF
Va oh GA
toward the end OF the empire. when
crinoline was at the height OF fashion.
is simply incredible.
Did Not Come All at Once.
That those persons who are frightened
from time to time by the report that the
crinoline may be revived one Of these
days really have some ground for their
nervousness seems to be shown by the
remark that II did not come in with
rush, but cleverly insinuated itself. It
was an old acquaintance. During tho
Regency and the unfortunate reign OF tho
Inflated Louis hvI 1t had assumed the
form OF a wicker basket. The revolution
freed women from this prison. and. a. tt
harked SO much back to ancient times, &c
dressed them la grecque-
The Restoration revived the fashion OK
round skirts with stin petticoats. and
rigid material like erin" which was
called, from this word. "crinoline. to
I'LL out the skirts. Gradually the skirts
grew larger and larger. and then the hoop
was pressed into service. first OF al With
whalebone, and then with steel.
May Be Reaction.
Such is the history Of the crinoiine. -
related by an up-to-date Partisan Journal
AS will have been perceived. II came into
fashion by degrees. after the abandon
ment OF a mode which Is at the present
moment being SO universally initiated.
Is there likely to be a similar reaction?
No one can as yet venture on such q
prediction; but there is a pretty general
| tendency for people who have gone to
one extreme to take 20 the other In pro-
cess OF time as a welcome change.
Hosts of women are now wearing O
sort Of hoop of some soft material. which
matches their skirts, with a view 70 fur
Their circumscribing those already scant
garments. and when they grow weary or
having their movements thus cramped
they may sigh for skirts which will al
low them to step out freely once more
and SO rush to the opposite extreme