Evening journal., 1923-02-16
Where Skirts for Men
Are O. La Mode

The question OF the proper length
of a woman's skirt from season 20
season is one which springs eternal.
Even the archaeologists. according
to recent newspaper reports, say that
1t has been a matter OF controversy
for forty centuries and they point
out statuettes Of the times of the
Pharoahs with skirts OF varying cuts
and lengths.
Men. too. have had skirts to
worry with almost since the dawn of
history and some of them-notably
the Greek soldiers and the famous
Ladies from He'll OF the World War
-are literally wearing skirts today"
says a bulletin of the National
Geographic Society from its Wash
ington, D. c.. headquarters.
'1n fact. the garment which man
evolved after he originated in the
tropical latitudes and began drifting
toward colder climes was probably n
sskirt OF skins suspended from
girdle. Such a garment was worn by
the ancient Babylonians and many
others.
1.-THE national costume OF the Jaw
ianese men IS composed Of the sarong
and the kabaya. The sarong is a
brightly colored skirt kept in place
around the waist by a silk scarf
which IS wound around the body sew
elal times. The skirt falls down over
the hips in straight lines and IS quite
narrow. with one simple deep fold
il front. The kabaya IS a sort of
dressing jacket, often embroidered in
elaborate colors Though the Java
nese noblemen today are accepting
the commonplace Eglish and Amer
lean attire for ordinary occasions,
one often sees at their festivals
startling contrasts in attire Native
nsen OF Mozambique and OF some OF
the Pacific Islands also wear the
sarong.
l'Nothlng IS dearer to the heart OF
the canny Scotchman than his FAM
lily plaid. Once he wrapped himself
in the huge oblong piece OF cloth and
belted IN the lower portion which ex-
tended down to his knees. forming |
the kilt. later this lower part was
made separately and was dignifed |
with the name OF philibeg.
The Albanian armed watchmen |
f az the doors Of foreign embassies and |
.cnnsulates and the Greek soldiers /
wear what they are pleased to call |
the 'fustenella." which IS n killed |
skirt OF knee-iength made Of white |
cotton or linen, very full and starch
ed. The royal bodyguard Of the
Greek king and the Greek peasants
on holiday also wear the 'fusten-
ella'
= THE men OF Ponapi Island in the
carolines wear skirts. usually made
of grass and palm leaves appended
from beaded belts, the kings being
more elaborate than the commoner's.
And many a black king in Afhlca has
on his coronation robes when he can
sfnirlS in pride IN a short skirt and a
tall hat.
~Among the aborlgines OF Australia
the women get out their needles
made from little bone from the leg
OF an emu, thread them with the
elnews Of oppossume. kangaroos, or
emus, and do the little plain sewing
which makes the necessary skirts for
their lords and masters.
yBut man suffers one step nearer
fominism than the skirt-the
lslnono. Indeed II seems that the
street attire for the greater part OF
mankind Is garment Of that FIX.
rbe shah OF Persia Is all dressed up
When he gets on a gorgeous robe cut
'xactiy like the American woman's
Ine-piece kimono, except that his
ieeves are long and tight and would
e a nuisance to her ladyship II she
ad to wear them. The material he
ses IS elaborate and the embroid-
ry around the edges must cost him
retty penny but the American wo-
ian has him beat for comfort.
,"The men In the Teheran streets
rear garments OF dark colors made
n much the same way. the white OF
heir undergarments making a white
ickey at the neck. The vivid robes
Il the monks in the temples in
sur1na are somewhat like the ancient
Roman togas. Greek Orthodox
'riests and Arabs OF northern Africa
llso wear kimono-iil1e garments, the
Arab calling his a burnoose. The
istive costume Of the Moors OF Tim
,uctu in the Sahara gives the effect :
u the long robes with the loose 4
lowing sleeves worn during gradua-
ion exercises in American universi-
ies
In China Japan. Korea, Tibet and
Mongolia they call the garment va
'iors names, but when Il drifts to