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whieh led to its adoption — it may have originated in some article of defen- 

 sive armor, or from the desire to enforce an erect hearing, as heing most 

 suitable for the profession. We, of modern days, adopt the style and color 

 of the soldier, leaving the white almost exclusively to clergymen. This is, 

 doubtless, because we are a more warlike race. At the conclusion of his 

 remarks, the President a«ked if any gentleman was prepared to read a 

 paper on the subject of " Clothing in General." No person being so pre- 

 pared, at the request of several members, Mr. Pell proceeded to give a 

 reviev/ of the subject in its historical bearings. 



MR. PELL ON CLOTHING. • 



The clothing of man is principally obtained from four raw materials, silk, 

 wool, cotton, and flax. The wool of the sheep was the first substance 

 manufactured into cloth among the mountainous regions of Asia, Linen 

 was first made in Egypt, as flax was indigenous to that country. Silk 

 in China, as the silk-worm was heard of first as originating in that part of 

 the globe. Cotton fabrics in India, as the cotton plant originated there. 

 God gave wool-bearing animals to 6old countries, because they yield the 

 warmest covering for those inhabiting them ; and cotton to tropical climates, 

 being the best substance for such regions. 



The skins of animals were the earliest covering made use of by man, and 

 they continued to wear them long after the art of weaving was thoroughly 

 understood. Hercules is said to have worn the skin of a lion ; and even 

 jEiieas wore a vest made of a wild animal's skin, when he took his de- 

 parture from Troy. Alcestes wore the skin of a bear, and probably looked 

 very much like some of our uncivilized western hunters. 



Garments, manufactured from wool, possess many advantages over the 

 other materials named, owing to the elasticity of its filamentous texture — 

 light articles, of great warmth, may be made of it. And further, it has a 

 tendency to preserve those persons who may unavoidably become exposed 

 to epidemic influences, when worn next their persons. Linen next to the 

 skin is more favorable to cleanliness than woollen, because it does not 

 absorb as much perspirable matter ; but it becomes sooner saturated with 

 moisture, and requires to be more frequently changed. It feels colder 

 to the skin than woollen, because it is a good conductor of heat, and thus 

 robs our bodies of it rapidly. Silk is a warm material, but seems much 

 better adapted for external than inner garments ; it is an elegant dress for 

 ladies, and possesses, as a covering, several valuable qualities. Furs cer- 

 tainly excel, as far as warmth is concerned, all other known materials ; but 

 as woollens answer every purpose with us, they are generally used for show. 



England has been for very many years famous for its wool, still, the art 

 of weaving it was not much practiced there before the year 1330 ; up to 

 that period they imported their fine cloths. Edward III., after his mar- 

 riage to Phillippa, imported woollen manufacturers into England ; but they 

 did not make much progress in the manufacture until the time of Henry 

 VIII. It grew into much importance about the time the Duke of Alva 



