New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1925-11-18

II Is c#cilul " somewhat sur
prisIng reading. knowing the diff.
cuItlcs and dangers OF the time, 10
notice how soon the ship captains
were entrusted with long and de.
tailed orders for London clothes,
'dudS' as they were often called.
Fortunately fashions did not change
yearly Tor the colonists studied aft.
er nyc" array, and made greet cost
IN clothing Yet although the fash
ions did not rapidly change, and n
handsome manic or other article of
apparel would be handed down from
mother 10 daughter and even grand
daughter, the fear OF being out of
style was not unknown. Small in
voices of fashionable clothing were
sent from abroad paid for by
cheese, eggs, butter. dried apples,
even hard gingerbrcad' Every let
ter from John HGIl Of England to
his honorcd mother. Madam Sy-
monds in Ipswich shows his
anxiety that she be dressed in the
top OF the mode Lawn whisks are
not now worn, either by gentle or
simple, young or DID, he writes, and
consequently Madam Symonds wore
Instrc' or lutcstring, as did the
other colonial danes. 1t Is tribute
to the devotion Of American women
to the rigid laws Of fashion, that all
Whisks, 1t is said, save black and
Iutestrins disappeared from colonial
Inventories. Whisks' were not the
only part Of the dress that received
Il goodly share Of attention. Sleeves
were an important adjunct often
The most gorgeous and richly Orna-
mcntcd part of the dress Pulled,
sIashed cut up the arm, drawn out
with sundry colors, painted with silk
ribbons and very CALAMITY tied with
love knots DO not labor under the
dclusion that this is q description Of
feminine costume only. We are told
that mems sleeves and womcn's
sleeves kept ever close company.
Neither followed the other; they
walked abreast
Warning Against Gay Shoes
Fancy shoes are by no means a
Goth century innovation. In the
early 18th century, Quaker women
were warned not to wear shoes of
| light COlors bound with different
coIors and heels white or red, with
white bands, and fine colorcd clogs
and strings and scarlet and purple
stockings and petticoats made short
| to expose them These shoes often
| had bright colored strings, green
spangled, gilded, red ribbons, white
silken' and buckles Of silver, paste
and jewels.
Masculine foot-gc was included
in these gay fashions and had an
added touch in tassels for top boots
A letter from young American to
his sweetheart thanks her for the
heart filing boot tasscls.' Did thot.
rosy fingers twist the silken strands
and knot them with thought Of the
wcarcr? ! wish you was loving
enough to tie some threads of your
golden hair into the tassels, ! swear
! cannot find but never q one
There were conspicuous exam
pies of the love of gay colors and
fine clothes, like the Madam Sy-
monds who had the devoted son,
IN London, anxious that his moth
rr should be up to date, a solicit
! tUde evidently shared by the lady
herself, Judging from her letters
/ of instructions. The son was not
unique in this particular. Mrs.
Earle calls attention to the record
Of Pcpys and Dudley North, lord
sheriff of London, walking abroad
TO survey the gems and guards
worn by their noighbors' wives,
bringing home word of new stuffs
and new Trimmings to their own
wives and adds, Really, a 18th
century husband was no so bad.
Governor Bradford's stuffc
suit with silver buttons and cloake
of violet, light colour and faced
with taffety and linen throw; the
several dozen scarlet coats sent
from England in 1873 to Massa
chusctts Bay colony by order of
Governor Winthrop; the full, long
cloak of rich scarlet broadcloth,
| worn by a Salem Judge and still