Norwich bulletin., 1916-09-16
of stockings and other articles in pro- portion laid by."

portion laid by."
 As slarins example of feminine frivoiity is cited the case of the ward robe of Widow Elizabeth White, of Norwich as contained in the inven- tory of her effects, taken Aug. Is, 1757. She was the daughter of Sam uel Bliss and relict of Daniel White, of Middletown.
 After the death of her husband in l726. she returned to Norwich, and died here July 2nd, 175T, aged Il. The items of her jewelry, plate and appar- el are enumerated at length; but this summary will give an adequate idea of the possessions of this Norwich gentlewozAan of the late eighteenth century:
 Widow White had gowns of brown duroy, striped stuff, plaid stuff, black silk crape, calico and blue camlet; a scarlet cloak, blue cloak, satin-f1 flow cred mantle, and furbelow scarf; a a camlet riding hood, long silk hood, velvet hood. white hoods trimmed with lace, silk bonnet and twelve caps; a cambricll laced handkerchief, silk do., linen do., sixteen hankies in all; a muslin laced apron, lowered laced apron, green taffety apron, four teen aprons in all; a silver ribband, and blue girdle; 4 pieces of lowered satin; parcel of crewel; woman's fan:
 Turkey worked chairs:
 A gold necklace; deaths head gold sleeve-buttons: gold locket; silver hair peg; silver cloak clasps; a stone button set in silver:
 A large silver tanllard; silver cup; with two handles; do. with one han dle; and a large silver spoon.
 -
 And SC on, indicating that the Widow White was pretty we'll provid- ed with wearables and comforts. for what we are pleased to call simple colonial timesl
 Nor was this the acme of smart dressing among the women of earlier days! Miss Caulins goes on to say: At the period of this inventory there was stil a certain homeliness and frugal1ty apparent about even the fashionable attire of the day But in the next generation richer goods were imported and more splendor was ex- hibited. The following is an illustra- tive instance:
 "The daughters of Gen. Jahez Hunt ington, (afterwards the wives of Col Chester of Wethersield and of Dr. Strong, of Norwich. respectively were sent successively, at the ages of four teen or fifteen years to finish their ed ucation at T boarding school in Bos- ton. Tcse lady who kept the estab- lishment vaS of high social standing and made it a point of taking her pu- pi!s cften into company, that thei, manners might be formed according to the prevailing codes of poIiteness and etiquette.
 "Of course the wardrobe prepared for the young ladies was rich in ar inI Of of the daughters, who had been care fully fitted out with twelve silk gowns, had been a short time in Bos- ton when her instruCtress wrote tc her parents. requesting that another dress should be procured Tor her. made of a certain rich fabric that had re- gently been imported. in order that her appearance in society might be equal to her rank. A thirteenth robe of silk of the requisite pattern was therefore immediately procured and forwarded"
 Ladies at that peroid wore trains tc their gowns and these were often quite long, so that when the wearers walked out, it was the vogue to 1hrow the end of the train over the right arm.
 Great attention was paid to foot wear, also; the foot, when properly dressed displayed a silk stocking, a sharp -toed slipper, the latter often made of embroidered satin, and with a high heel.
 At one period, sharply -gored gowns and cumbrous hoops were in vogue. Women of mature age, in those times, would wear close linen cap Parasols and umbrellas were unknown or rare; but a fan nearly a foot and a half long and spreading like the tai of peacock, was often carried, quite as much to keep off the sun as to sti1 and vivify the heated air. So the foremothers of the town declled themselves with quite as much vanity as do their descendants. and were not above enchancine, those | charms given them by Nature by util- izins all the aids suggested by fashion and fancy.
 THE DICTAGRAPH. ET~TEDC T0 "Tr rH"@D