The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-12-29
Fashion Was Prevalent at Least
1000 B. c.
In the Time of Psolemy and Cleopatra
Egyptian Women Hoped Along
Nile in Garb Worn BY
Smart Set.

Chicago.-Has someone remarked
that the "hobble skirt" is fin de steele
up to date, the very apogee OF mod
ern feminine sartorial folly?
Well, ii is not-merely rediyiyius OF
a fashion prevalent at least 1000 years
B. c. This startling information Will
come as somewhat of a shock to the
clothing designers of the day who
prided themselves that they had ere
ated something, originated something,
or at least been responsible for the
renaissance of a style not more than
three or four hundred years old.
Over 1900 years ago the dusky NAL
dens of the now defunct city of Thebes
hoped along merrily in their hobble
skirts.
Somewhat later In the time OF Ptol-
envy and Cleopatra the favored OF
Pharaoh's daughters. that is, the better
classes of Egyptian women. tripped
along the banks of the Shiny, sluggish
Nile, and a few Of them probably fell
in.
The ancient hieroglyphics upon the
obelisks, sarcophagi and pyramids OF
the earth's once most powerful race
show conclusiyely that women who
have now been mummies for fully q
score Of centuries wore the much idi-
culed and secretly admired hobbies"
Evidences of this vagary of dress
among the ancient Egyptians may be
seen In 4fle picture writings on the
granite and basalt tablets and upon
the highly colored mummy cases that
are preserved In the Field Columbian
museum.
The hobbies" seem to have been
confined (as well as confining) princi-
rally { the upper strata of the society
of the day. yet examples Of a partial
"hobble effect" are to be seen in the
chroniclings OF the middle classes.
Dje-Mut-Esankh. a lady of high rank
in Thebes, 1000 B. c., whose mummy
case. II not whose mummy. forms a
portion of the Egyptian archaeological
exhibit In the museum, wore the ties
that bind" at the earliest known date,
She was the daughter of a family of
noble priests and served in temples,
herself as a musician to the great god.
Ammon. Dje-Mut-Esankh, translated.
means Musician Of Ammon."
Her hobble made her famous and
feared. 1t was a wonderful asp of
gold, studded with rubies and other
gems, and was attached to her gown
al the proper place by means of clasps.
Processes are said to have been en-.
vious of her.
Naja-Rames, Of the XXVIIth dynas.
ty, about the seventh century B. c.,
went her predecessor one better, and
wore 'em just above her knees, Judging
from the pictures Of the lady that are
extant today. But Egyptian art and
artists were somewhat uncertain. how.
eve and 1t is possible that the bronze
hued man who carved her picture for
the e~difcation of posterity may have
made a mistake.
"Naja," to be familiar, is believed to
have been the wife of a powerful noble
or an actress, otherwise she Npuld no,
have dared ignore public opiaion and
envy with the sang froid that II ap
parent in her pictures.
With her striking apparel and gar
lands Of blue and rose-hued sotus fow
ers she was the sensation Of her day
The discovery that the Egyptians wore
the hobbies" is o~orroborated by
Egyptologists-
Yes, 1t Is true that the 1tyle was II
vogue. many years before Christ" sait
w. Chesney Chenery, an authority OF
archaeology, living at Hull house. II
only bears out the trite old saying
there is nothing new, ETC., etc."
They certainly did wear tight skirt.