Archaeologia Volume 24; Or Miscellaneous Tracts Relating to Antiquity (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1832 Excerpt: ...French figure dancers.. "With Quakers it is a point of their faith not to wear a button or a loop tight up, their hats spread over their heads like a pent-house, and darken the outward man, to signify that they have the inward light. "Some wear their hats (with the corners, which should come over their foreheads, in a direct line) pointed into the air; those are the Gawkies. "Others do not above half cover their heads, which is indeed owing to the shallowness of their crowns; but between beaver and eyebrows expose a piece of blank forehead, which looks like a sandy road in a surveyor's plan. Indeed, people should hide as much of the face under their hats as possible; for very few there are but what have done something for which they ought to be out of countenance, &c. "A man with a hat larger than common, represents the fable of the mountain in labour; and the hat edged with a gold binding belongs to the brothers of the turf." When three-cornered hats began to go out of fashion about fifty years ago, some wit of the day named them, "Egham, Staines, and Windsor," in allusion to the direction-post made in that form. In looking at the magnificent staircase at Blickling Hall, Norfolk, of the date of James I. with the rich bannisters and pinacles surmounted with carved figures, dressed in costume of that period, a correct antiquary will be startled to find a modern figure of a Soldier with spatterdashes, a tremendous cocked hat, and a goodly long pigtail.1 Upon further inquiry, he will find the staircase was much enlarged by the late Earl of Buckinghamshire (between sixty or seventy years ago). But the pinnacles under the figures are copied from the old ones. To continue the subject of Hats from the reign of Queen Anne to t...