Historic Dress in America, 1607 - 1800. By Elisabeth McClellan. Illustrations by
Sophie B. Steil. (a W. Jacobs, Philadelphia. 42s. net.)—A brief introductory chapter gives an account, with illustrations, of Spanish, Dutch, French, and English dress during the forty-odd years which precede the period specially covered by this work. For this part of the book—it is but small in extent— there seems to have been little or nothing that was novel avail- able. From 1607 downwards there was plenty to choose from, and Miss McClellan has made a highly attractive collection. The reader must understand that there are two elements of interest There are the representations of costumes both of men and women ; and there are portraits. Some of the plates are repro- duced from articles of dress which have been preserved in various families ; others combine the portrait and the fashion of the time ; in some, again, the portrait interest is predominant. Of course, there is not any very marked difference between the contents of this volume and what we should find in a similar work dealing with the same period in English history. Some one possessed of expert knowledge might detect a difference of time ; fashions presumably followed the course of Empire and travelled west, but the tray:Ring must have taken some time,
One element which we should not find in a strictly English book is to be observed in the French figures of the time when there was an active alliance between France and the States during the War of Independence. We must be content with this very inadequate notice of a very handsome volume. The only way to give an idea of it, the reproducing of some of the illustrations, is not within our capacities.
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