by Ginger Philbrick
In 1879, a book entitled Decorum, its author now unknown, was published in New York City. It is an absolutely fascinating directive on proper social behavior and has been termed as the turn of the page from the informality of the frontier to the decorum of the drawing room.
I was fortunate enough to receive it as a gift from a lovely young friend and subsequently found it difficult to put aside in order to cook dinner—a behavior that definitely would have been eschewed by the author!
I want to share some of its advice with you. Perhaps one of the most appropriate segments for the beginning of summer and its water pursuits is the entry entitled “Ladies Rowing.” It reads as follows:
“Of late years ladies have taken very much to rowing; this can be easily managed in a quiet river or private pond, but it is scarcely to be attempted in the more crowded and public parts of our rivers—at any rate, unless superintended by gentlemen. In moderation, it is a capital exercise for ladies; but when they attempt it they should bear in mind that they should assume a dress proper for the occasion. They should leave their crinoline at home, and wear a skirt barely touching the ground; they should also assume flannel Garibaldi shirts and little sailor hats— add to these a good pair of stout boots, and the equipment is complete. We should observe however, that it is impossible for any lady to row with comfort or grace if she laces tightly.”
In the event you do not have a Garibaldi shirt and need to look for one, it will no doubt help to know it is a blousy, red shirt, often made of wool and designed for women in honor of the Italian patriot, Giuseppe Garibaldi.
Should any of you take the above fashion advice as you set out to canoe or kayak, please don’t forget to loosen your laces—and please send me a photo!
Ginger Philbrick is the owner of Because You Are Polite LLC. You are invited to email your manners questions to her and she will respond as time and space allow. You may contact her at youarepolite1@gmail.com.
