The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-10
i Kansas Ave.

Kansas Ave.
black background figured with red
roses. Her little black bonnet had the
tiny round crown extending at the
back. Mrs. J. M. Brunt wore her moth
er's wedding gown of silk. with strip
ed jacket and postillion in colors. of
gray and gold. With it she wore an cid
paisley shawl.
Mrs. C. G. Blakely wore an old Quak-
er gray costume. with full skirt. and
a white fichu, which was clasped IN
front with and old gold framed minia-
ture of one David Dodge, who was a
member OF the family from which Mrs.
Blakely is descended. The portrait has
romantic story. David was Yale
student, and on his way to his home in
Kentucky he had a portrait Of himself
made for his sweetheart in the Blue
Grass land. He arrived home to find
that she had married during his abb
sence; SO he flung himself on the sofa
with tragic emphasis, and there he
languished and died. as 1t was fashion
able to do in those days under such
painful circumstances.
Miss Ethel Aldrich wore a pink flow
cred costume; with the panniers and
train draped back from a quilted pink
petticoat. and she wore a huge pow
dered wig and curls. Mrs. Shelton wore
a Dolly Warden orocade. with painters
and train, with white satin petticoat.
Mrs. Albrecht Marburg was gowned in
q Colonial costume of brocade over red
satin. Mrs. A. H. Horton was charm
ingly gowned in an old fashioned law
ender gown, with wide. full train.
and white f1chu. Mrs. Handy wore
some interesting old jewelry, a pair of
earrings of gold filigree, and Mrs.
Brunt's earrings and necklace were
heirloOms.
The Handy home is suitable for Co
lOnial parties. for it contains many in
teresting pieces of antique furniture.
and most Of it that is not actually old
Is in the style of the Colonial period.
Mrs. Shelton read a paper on Colonial
costumes. prepared for the occasion by
her author-actor son. THE men," ac-
cOrding to the article dressed with a
degree of elegance unknown to us OF
the twentieth century, and their tailor
bills would give the purses of all but
our present day millionaires the heart
failure, but withal there was little to
distinguish the wealthiest men from
their less materially fortunate neigh
bors except in the matter OF buttons
which were badges denoting the degree
Of prosperity of their wearers. The
period was for the men an age when
good figures were requisite and neces-
sary. Suspenders and garters were
practically unknown, and fortunate in
deed was that gentleman SO construct
ed by kind nature that he could keep
his breeches above his hips and his
ungarted hose above the calves of his
legs.
1T was an age of gay colors-a regu-
lar comic opera age for costumes. The
staid gentlemen Of Philadelphia wore
coats Of red cloth, breeches of red plush
and waistcoats in plush of various hues.
In New York there was greater vari-
ETY.. The breeches were close fitting
with silver buckles at the knees. the
material of green silk lowered with sill
yer and gold, or covered with silver
gauze. The coats Of silks, satins. or
lowered brocades. were long with vol
luminous skirts. ornate with gold or
silver braid, The embroidered waist
coats were long like q bishops apron.
Shirts were of fine linen trimmed with
ruffies Of lace. neck cloths of figured
stun falling In deep folds over the
breast. The hats were laquered and
wide brimmed. the brim upturned into
three corners and fastened with hooks.
And wigs! the most important ar
ticle In the mans wardrobe. BY 1760
they were worn by all men, high or low,
rich or poor. master, servant or slave,
professional man or artfzan. One man
paid $135 for false hair for his three
children. A charge Of ten pounds was
not considered excessive for a years
care Tor single wig. Slaves wore the
Wigs their masters discarded or pur-
chased cheaper grades built from
coarse hair Of goats or horses. Wigs
Tor women did not apepar until toward
the close Of the eighteenth century, but
our grandmothers did AFFECT the tower
ing headdress through the Colonial per-
iod. Fearful and wonderful things
were these. The lady's own hair was
supported on cushions and rolls OF yarn,
tow. wool. curled hair and hay. The
head dresses often exceeded a foot in
height So elaborate were they that the
same one would be retained for months.
This head dress had to be covered,
and clashes were invented. a garment
constructed Of green silk along the
lines OF gig top, with system OF
strings by which II could be raised or
lowered N the weather demanded.
These Colonial DANES wore thin soled
shoes. Pointed. buckled and bespangled.
ana with heels sometimes three and
half inches high. They carried fans =