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66
AN ADVENTURE

in which the consonants are strengthened and the diphthongs broadened.

In the autumn of 1909 we read the Baron de Frénilly's Souvenirs, in which it is stated that wigs were universally worn by gentlemen in French society up till 1787. After that date powdered hair became the general usage; the first person (M. de Valence) who ventured to appear with unpowdered hair did so, apparently, in 1788, after which it became a mark of extreme fashion.[1]

The same was the case with buckled shoes. Gold, silver, stones, and rosettes had been required for a gentleman's dress ornaments; but after the commercial treaty with England in 1786, steel was used for everything. Buckled shoes are expressly mentioned as being very fashionable in 1789, and there was, at that time, a rage for steel ornaments.[2]


Bridge over Little Cascade

Following the man's direction, we turned to the right and walked over a small rustic bridge which crossed a tiny waterfall coming from

  1. Souvenirs du Baron de Frénilly, p. 80.
  2. Ib. p. 80.