" Crysastum commends Olympias, a lady of birth
and fortune, for having in her garment nothing that was wrought or
gaudy. Jerome praises Paula, another lady of quality, for the same
reason. We find also that an unreasonable change of cloathing, or a
change to please the eye of the world, was held improper. Cyril says,
"we should not strive for variety, having clothes for home, and others
for ostentation abroad." In short the ancient fathers frequently
complained of the abuse of apparel in the ways described.
Exactly in the same manner, and in no other, have the Quakers considered
the doctrines of Christianity on the subject of dress. They have never
adopted any particular model either as to form or colour for their
clothes. They have regarded the two objects of decency and comfort. But
they have allowed of various deviations consistently with these. They
have in fact fluctuated in their dress. The English Quaker wore formerly
a round hat. He wears it now with stays and loops. But even this fashion
is not universal, and seems rather now on the decline. The American
Quaker, on the other hand, has generally kept to the round hat. Black
hoods were uniformly worn by the Quaker-women, but the use of these is
much less than it was, and is still decreasing.
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