Evening star., 1933-06-25

"The tempest in teapot" says The
Star Of June 81, 1883, stirred up by
the report
No Knickerbockers that an Of
For Letter Carriers. fetal order
had been or
was soon to be issued requiring the
Government letter carriers to wear
knickerbockers, instead of the present
style Of trousers, seems to have been
without adequate cause. No such Or
der has ever been contemplated, &C.
cording to competent authority. Our
Swift-footed messengers of good and
bad news may therefore rest in peace
with the consoling reflection that the
size and shape OF their calves are not
to be matters for public criticism. This,
it Is to be inferred, must have been the
chief ground for indignation, if any
existed. since q particular style Of uni
form has already been prescribed for
them, the advantages of which are
obvious.
"A little sensitiveness on the point
referred to, II really entertained, is
perhaps natural enough: but, all things
considered, 1t ought not to have any
weight in considering the matter. Such
objections as are usually urged against
the proposed change in a general way
seem to be based mainly on a vague
idea that short breeches and long
stockings are somewhat effeminate and
adapted rather for dudes and esthetes
than earnest and muscular men. This
notion is undoubtedly largely due to
the fact that they were so unfortunate
as to be affected by that apostle Of
asininity, Oscar Wilde. Nothing. how
view Of the case. So far from being,
either in appearance or adaptability,
q suitable garment for the weak-mind-
ed and weak -jointed portion of the
human family, the knickerbocker is the
best style of mans dress for walking
nd ordinary working ever conceived.
And if the letter carriers should once
give 1t a fair trial it is quite safe to
say that they would not only thank
the person who suggested it, but they
would stoutly resist any movement in
tended to prevent them from contin-
uing to wear it.
ITO this tenor is the uniform testi-
mony Of pedestrians, wheelmen, gun
ners, anglers and indeed Of everybody
who has ever enjoyed its advantages
IL
nary indoor use. With q thin stocking
it is cooler in Summer, and with a
thick woolen stocking and a cloth or
leather gaiter it Is warmer in Winter
than the present style Of trousers. 1t
is at all times more comfortable, more
cleanly and more convenient than they,
with the added advantage that it is
far more economical and more dura-
BILE, costing less In the beginning, keep
ing in better order during service and
wearing. longer in the end. But for
all this, it Is likely that the talked-of
change will never be made. If not,
however, 1t may be set down to the
fact that the human family is often
more sensitive to shafts of ridicule
than courageous in adopting the SEN
an article or custom sanctioned by long
usage"
According to most of the reports of
the ceremonies Of the Cars corona
George Augustus Sala years wear " ago %
On Cars Coronation. 1t i, wa was one one
resplendent spectacles the modern
world had ever witnessed The follow
All6 AA AhC Oval VI julio Il, 1000, IOW-
ever, indicates that the magnificence
was somewhat shoddy:
After looking at the fine parade
made over the event by the English
and French pictorial papers, and read
ing the gorgeous descriptions furnished
by correspondents present, it is little
disappointing to hear so experienced
and cool-headed an authority as George !
Augustus Sala pronounce the Cars
coronation ceremonies and display q
disgusting sham. The jewels were
paste, he declares, or at least most |
Of them; the apparent gold was lac
quered brass: the embroidered blazonry |
nothing but the thinnest of tinsel, and
the SNOWY robes were cotton velvet of |
the cheapest sort. The greater part of
this is doubtless true, and it is natural |
enough. The greatest humbugs on
earth are its crowned heads, and their
ceremonies are nonsense
pure and simple. Why should the dec
orations be the genuine thing where
the central event itself Is a hollow
sham? Does Mr.. Sala expect to gather
figs from thorn bushes and grapes from