DRESS 261 



hunting-boots neat and sport ing-like. The long black, 

 amphibious-looking, half-military, half-snipe-shooting, 

 boots may be convenient to itinerant sportsmen, but 

 they are exceedingly unbecoming. 



Although we have returned nearly to the fashion of 

 the year 1800, the changes that have taken place since 

 that period in the cut and fashion of a sportsman's 

 costume are conspicuous. About five-and-thirty years 

 ago very short- waisted coats, with remarkably narrow 

 skirts, were worn; the bodies and sleeves were tight, 

 and most miserable garments they were; literally dress 

 coats worn in the hunting-field. The narrow skirts 

 afforded no protection to the thighs from wet or in- 

 clement weather; and they were accompanied by white 

 cords equally disagreeable. The top of the boots were 

 very short, and they were scoured white to match the 

 cords; altogether no design of costume could be more 

 inconsistent, and yet if a man presumed to wear any- 

 thing not quite in accordance with the fashion he was 

 looked upon as a most uncouth monster. Leathers and 

 hunting-caps were quite out of date about the year 1825, 

 and if any gentleman sportsman had presumed to make 

 his appearance in such toggery, his nearest friends 

 would have exercised their charity by a speedy arrange- 

 ment to relieve him from all intellectual responsibility. 

 In this respect as in many others we have arrived at 

 great improvement. Free trade and freedom of 

 costume go hand in hand, and a man may now wear 

 whatever suits his fancy without incurring the risk of 

 being cut by his most intimate acquaintance because 

 the cut of his coat happens to be different from that of 

 other persons. 



By slow degrees these inconsistencies of dress were 

 reformed a propos of time about the period when the 

 Reform Bill was passed, and they have continued to 

 improve. The fashion of wearing leathers was resusci- 

 tated some twenty years ago, I believe, in consequence 

 of the stewards of Croxton Park races, Lords Wilton 

 and Forester and Mr. Maxse, appearing in them on the 



