The Art of Tying the Cravat

The throats of our forefathers were for ages as uncovered as their faces; in this respect the descendants of the Sarmatæ have not degenerated, as the Poles during the most severe winter have their throats constantly exposed. The same fashion (which ... Read more

The throats of our forefathers were for ages as uncovered as their faces; in this respect the descendants of the Sarmatæ have not degenerated, as the Poles during the most severe winter have their throats constantly exposed. The same fashion (which is, however, less surprising) has descended to the Eastern Nations, among whom a white and well turned neck is metaphorically compared to the beauty of a tower of ivory. The Calmucks, Baskirs, and other Tartars of the Don, or the borders of the Caspian Sea, also adhere to this fashion; very few of them, however, merit the Eastern compliment, as their throats are generally ugly and ill-formed. This custom gradually declined in France and several parts of Europe, and luxury, rather than necessity, introduced the fashion of covering the throat loosely with a fine starched linen cloth; this was worn above the shirt, without a collar; the ends were brought down on the breast, and there fastened by laces of thread—from this the idea of bands was derived—before the introduction of the heavy and unhealthy bonds, which at a later period confined the throat, was even dreamt of. Less