The question of regional variations is fascinating. On the off chance
that Google Books might provide some clues I went looking for Antwerp
1817. As a location and time so close to, and soon after, Waterloo it
seemed reasonable to suppose that there might be something written by
someone English. I came across this:
Henry Smithers "Observations made during a tour in 1816 and 1817 through
that part of the Netherlands which comprises Osten, Bruges, Ghent,
Brussels, Malines, and Antwerp..." (
While he doesn't help with the question of trains, he did have some
things to say that I thought might amuse this group:
"The females are cleanly and healthy, but to a traveller they exhibit a
most grotesque appearance ; among the middling or lower classes, hats or
bonnets are not worn, but large scarfs black or coloured, and most
ponderous ear-rings, suspended from each ear, and exceeded in size and
Weight only by those of the natives of Ava and Peru in the east, where
the holes in the ears are made when the female is young, and when
increased to the size of a dollar, earrings are fitted thereto. «
It was judiciously remarked by an intelligent American, that when he
first landed in England, the similarity of language, of habits, and
manners to 'those of his own country, was such, that he forgot the
distance which intervened ; but when he crossed from the shores of
Britain to Ostend, in a few hours only, he was struck with such an
entire contrast in dress, food and costume, as induced him to think he
had been landed in some new world."
and another delightful observation, especially considering how much
vegetation appears on English lady's bonnets at this time:
"Artificial flowers are made here to very great perfection—many of them
so correctly immitate nature both in flower and foliage, that even on
close inspection the eye will be sometimes deceived. The Belgian Ladies
are fond of this sort of ornament in their hats and bonnets, and when
judiciously placed it is elegant, but it is worn here in such
considerable quantities, and sometimes so ill chosen as to produce a
contrary effect."
[email protected] wrote:
In a message dated 3/4/2010 5:55:30 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[email protected] writes:
in 1817, but it's hard to imagine that anyone
would have a train on any gown by that time
Rosalie Stier Calvert, who lived in Prince George's County, Maryland,
received clothing from her sister in Antwerp for her daughter's introduction
into society in 1817. I've not checked the original French of her letter,
but The English translation is that Rosalie regrets that her full-dress blue
gown is trailing, as no one was wearing them like that here. I believe
that means it has a train, and they must still have been fashionable on the
Continent at that time.
Ann Wass
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