We read much of the luxurious effeminacy of the old Romans, their
fantastically curled hair, their favourite robes, &c.; but what will
posterity think of some of the modes of puppyism in our times, when they
read in a chronicle of fashion, dated 1829, that gentlemen wore elegant
drab cloth opera manteaux lined with scarlet velvet, and confined at the
collar with a gold chain! In another dress, the waistcoat is directed to
be made of "a very beautiful white embroidered velvet;" "some young
_men_ have appeared at balls with blue dress gloves embroidered
with white;" "the _system_ of the cravat is to form the
_organization_ of linen on the breast," the very "march" of
foppery; "cloaks of the gentlemen lined with plush silk of celestial
blue;" "at balls our young exquisites sport pocket-handkerchiefs of fine
lawn, with a hem as broad as their thumbs; the corners _only_ are
embroidered:" "shoes tied with a small _rosette_;" "a young
gentleman now suffers his hair to grow, has it curled, and parted on the
left side of the forehead," &c. &c.--This out-herods Herod.
* * * * *