Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-05-24

the honor OF having fixed and preserved
the standard Of the English language. He
gave to successive generations pictures
of early English life and character which
have never been surpassed and are only
equalled by those of Shakespeare, who
vas born 900 years later.
Standing with Chaucer and his friend,
John Cover. on Fleet bridge we will re-
view the passing throng See the monk
and mendicant. the priest and nun, the
lawyer and DOCTOR. knight and squire.
In those early days the lawyer students
. went to ST. Paurs and in the portico Of
the cathedral took part in debates in
which they learned to put cases for dis
cussion. See the very perfect gentle
knight whose high valor and chivalry
I'm war has made a name of high degree,
he speaks evff-o OF none and reigns in his
horse as the nun and her attendants
pass His fustion shows the wear OF
contact with his suit of mail, for he
has come from foreign service. Contrast
him with those 'gallants." those gorge
Gus popinjays standing in front OF that
MERGERS shop. Their coats are made of
blue and white cloth, with long nap or
pile. which can be shorn when II gets
little shabby, thus making IL look fresh
again. This garment buttons to the hips
and the loose sleeves, reaching to the ell
bow, fall thence, almost trailing on the
ground in open 'tippets." the edges OF
which were strangely pinked and scallop-
ed Below the elbows the sleeves OF the
linen doublet button to the wrists where
they meet the finely ''purpled" and en-
broidered gloves of dressed sheepskin.
The thin. tightly-fitting hose is in parti-
colored stripes, or each leg is a different
color The pointed shoe of soft Cordo-
van leather is slit in an open pattern on
the upper part OF the feet. Some of them
have points of such length that the toes
reach upward toward the knees, and in
later years there was a law regulating
its length.
The coverings for the head are Fland-
ers' caps and feathers or hoods but
toned under the chin and furnished at
the crown with long tails which are
wrapped around the head above the
, ears.
A cloak embroidered with silk and silver
thread, and large enough TO cover the
the wearer is gathered on the left shout
der, where il buttons like cape, or
siIken hooded cloak falls in more volu-
minous folds silken girdle or belt
holds the pouch in which is knife Tor
cutting the food at the table.
7 want you TO notice all this fancy
. dress is for the gay young man. You
will notice that he always has his knife
to use at the table. for in those days
the table was not as we'll equipped as
now.
The grave and digpifed land owner,
friend Of Chaucer's. has come to London
on bushes and you will note his red coat
! lined with blue, and trimmed with lace,
or fringe.
The merchant passes as we stand on
the bridge with Chaucer. and his surcoat
, is figured with red and blue flowers and
an imposing wide brimmed beaver is or
his head
I could write pages about the gay at
tire of those early days. but space for
bids Another time I may tell you OF
some of the real notables, the feasts some
OF them INDUCED in while others literally
starved.
Human nature was then as now. and no
two people have the same judgment, one
will profit by the open door OF opportu-
rity while the other seems not to even
see IL. Faithfully yours.
LIZZIE o. THOMAS.