New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-17

any other Carb he would have been as welcome
as the flowers that bloom in the spring. tra-la!
But alas His heroic neither limbs were encased
in trousers wherefore the highly decorated Off
cia who played the part Of Cerberus-a thousand
pardons, ladies'; not Cerberus. but st. Peter!-
courteously but with adamantine frmness barred
his way.
Permit me to point out to your grace that
your grace cannot be admitted in trousers!"
The duke made no remonstrance, and certainly
did not offer to remove the offending garment
and seek entrance a very literal Sans Culotte;
but grimy smiled and walked away.
Now this very reference to the Sans Culottes
is a reminder of the existence Of other neither
garments taan brooches at an earlier date than
century ago. 1t was at the beginning of the first
French revolution that the phrase arose, and it
was applied not, rs some seem to suppose, to rag
amulns of the streets who literally with
out adequate leg coverings, but to prosperous and
respectable men Of democratic proclivites who
discarded the arstocratic knee breeches and silk
stockings in favor Of a sort of pantaloon garment
extending from the hips to the ankle. But this
was not by any means Identical with trousers
The first trousers worn in London we're OF
plain light colored cloth, and fitted very tightly;
almost tight, may believe as those in this
Il
striped and other figured cloths were used by
some. but such trousers were regarded as quite
plebeian and fit for wearing only in bad weather
when the streets were muddy. or as a sort Of
rough outing garb at the seaside. favorite ma
teria for trousers worn by men of fashion was
an elastic stocknet, which fitted literally Skin
tight" Beneath such garments, to supply the
deficiencies Of nature men not averse to
wearing false calves and other paddngs on their
legs. Straps passing beneath the foot were used,
to keep the trouser legs held down in place
Above these garments. coats and wastcoats of
gaudy hues were worn; olive. buff green and
brown. For evening dress the height of fashion
prescribed a blue coat with gilt buttons. and a
white waistcoat of Marseilles quilting 1t will be
recalled that Thackerays Colonel Newcome, on
his return from India. attended his first evening
party in the earb of years before-that is of the
time of about one hundred years ago. He wore
n blue swaow-tailed coat with yellow buttons
and high velvet collar, "a high waist indicated
by two apelles and pair Of buttons high up in
the wearer's back. a white waistcoat and scarlet
under-waistcoat, and a pair of the never failing
duck trousers Morning and evening coats, it
may be added were identical in cut
THE fashions Of this country" said a German
writer who visited England one hundred years
ago, "are simple and harmonious; the shape does
not perhaps always please the eve but the color is
invariably becoming and the tout ensemble agree
able Nothing would appear ridiculous than
to see a man half fashionably clad As the coat is
cut, so must the wastcoat and breeches CORE
spond; nor would this suffice unless the shape OF
the hat and exact measure Of the boot were in
perfect ur'soo Every reform must therefore be
radical"