Rustic Manners and Customs. 79 



our modern eyes, to harmonise, while they tone down the 

 gorgeously gilt chairs and tables which preceded the intro- 

 duction into England of mahogany furniture and Brussels 

 carpets. 



The nobler English dame turned out of a morning with 

 black velvet mask, a coiffure in the form of a hat with the 

 brim down, a round gown, and a white apron. Many 

 ladies wore hats of snow-white horsehair, and, according to 

 Kalm, looked incomparably well.^ Most of the principal 

 females, and all the commoner males, wore perukes ; and a 

 boy was hardly breeched before he came out with one of these 

 huge head-dresses as big as himself. Boots were worn for 

 riding, but seldom for walking ; and as none but beggars went 

 long journeys on foot, travellers were invariably booted. 

 Labourers wore clouted shoes, shaped at the heel with iron 

 horseshoes, and full of nails under the middle of the sole ; and 

 as a protection against the mud, had, strapped around their 

 legs, a kind of gaiter. The country women, when out on a 

 visit, generally wore red cloaks ; but on commoner occasions 

 brown mantles. Lace and ruffles were largely used even by 

 farmers' wives, whose ordinary headgear was hats of wheat 

 straw. 



Dressed in whatever fashion, English women seem to have 

 been a pleasing sight to foreign eyes. Perlin describes them 

 as " fair as alabaster." Baron von Polluitz, eulogising their 

 complexions, declared it was a pleasure to see them blush. 

 Others went into ecstasies over their long, fine hair and 

 languishing eyes.^ The clearness of their skin, as compared 

 with that of other Eui'opeans, was no doubt owing to the fact 

 that, not having to mingle in the operations of the field, they 

 did not expose it to sun and wind. But no imputation of idle- 

 ness must be inferred from this circumstance ; for Kalm is 

 strong in praise of all he witnessed of our women's diligence 

 within doors, describing as admirable their assiduity in scour- 

 ing floors and dishes ; in cooking and dairying ; in washing 

 and starching the household linen ; and in darning stockings 



' Xalni's England, jJassim. 



* Fordgn Visitors in England, p. 209. E. Smith, 18S9. 



