Years ago I came across a costume in an antique store, a pitiful little cheap cotton dress, looking like 1920s or 1930s cloth and basic design, done in pseudo-18th century style. The makers label said it was a George Washington bicentennial dress. I have since regretted not having bought it.....
Katy On Feb 5, 2008 4:59 PM, Janet Newton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > How about a ball in honor of George Washington's birthday - > > The original version of the holiday was in commemoration of George > Washington's birthday in 1796 (the last full year of his presidency). > Washington, according to the calendar that has been used since at least the > mid-18th century, was born on February 22, 1732. According to the old style > calendar in use back then, however, he was born on February 11. At least in > 1796, many Americans celebrated his birthday on the 22nd while others marked > the occasion on the 11th instead. > > By the early 19th century, Washington's Birthday had taken firm root in the > American experience as a bona fide national holiday. Its traditions > included Birthnight Balls in various regions, speeches and receptions given > by prominent public figures, and a lot of revelry in taverns throughout the > land. Then along came Abraham Lincoln, another revered president and fellow > February baby (born on the 12th of the month). The first formal observance > of his birthday took place in 1865, the year after his assassination, when > both houses of Congress gathered for a memorial address. While Lincoln's > Birthday did not become a federal holiday like George Washington's, it did > become a legal holiday in several states. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Agnes Gawne" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 1:03 PM > Subject: [h-cost] 1867 Washington DC Fashion question > > > > > My brother sent me a question about fashion in 1867 - specifically > > regarding a ball in Washington DC. Do any of you have any idea why an > > 1867 woman would powder her hair or wear a blue ribbon around her neck? > > > > Here is the original quote. It's taken from the letters of John Hay. He > > was Abraham Lincoln's private secretary all during the Lincoln > > administration and then got sent to France as a diplomatic attache during > > the Johnson administration. He wrote about the ball in DC in February > > 1867 when he'd just returned from Paris. > > > > begin quote: > > "February 11. Mrs. Sprague gave a beautiful ball. The ladies who > > danced the Cotillon, and many who did not, had their hair powdered a > > la marquise. I have never seen so beautiful and picturesque a > > roomful. Some of the most striking were the Hostess herself (with > > whom I danced), the Hoyts, Miss Romain Goddard, Miss Haggerty, and > > Mrs. Banks, who was very correctly dressed, even to the extend of the > > blue ribbon around the neck, a little refinement in which she was > > alone -- Miss Kinzie, a fresh Western beauty and a superb danseuse. > > Mrs. Sumner and Miss Hooper, though not powdered, were beautifully > > dressed." > > :end quote > > > > I have my theories but I don't want to influence any of your answers as > > they are just theories. > > > > Thanks, > > Agnes > > _______________________________________________ > > h-costume mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > h-costume mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume > -- Katy Bishop, Vintage Victorian [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.VintageVictorian.com Custom reproduction gowns of the Victorian Era. Publisher of the Vintage Dress Series books. _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
