His glance was but momentary, yet it was long enough for him to note these few changes and minor details in Lyman’s dress.
“Come, Cobb,” said Lyman, “get up and dress. I will bring you your clothing.”
With the aid of Lyman, it was but a few minutes ere he was thoroughly arrayed and fitted out in the prevailing style of the day.
Handing him a fine pair of boots of very light material, Lyman said:
“Put these on, for it is wet outside; the low shoes are worn only during dry weather.”
Putting on the boots, which fitted him perfectly, Cobb surveyed himself in the glass. He liked the change from the old style. It was indeed a comfortable substitute for the heavy and loose-fitting trousers and long-tailed coats formerly worn. No collars to cut one’s ears, nor cuffs to hang down over one’s hands. It was handsome withal, and permitted a free action of the limbs.
“Is this now the prevailing style?” he asked Lyman.
“Yes. No other style of clothing but this is worn by men,” was the answer.
“And how long has this been the custom?”
“A great many years—how many I cannot say. It has been the style since I was born. I believe I have heard that it was inaugurated in 1910. Certain gentlemen in the city of Chicago were the first to start the movement, as near as I remember it. Anyway, the change was made, and now it is the only style of gentlemen’s wearing apparel in the United States. Of course, there are certain modifications of it, as for summer and winter, and in certain trades, but the one main idea is adhered to, namely: close-fitting clothing and knee-breeches, with shoes for dry and boots for wet weather.”