printer of the days immediately following the Revolution appeared in a costume that surpassed the most startling that Boston of our times could display.  “He wore a pea-green coat, white vest, nankeen small clothes, white silk stockings, and pumps fastened with silver buckles which covered at least half the foot, from instep to toe.  His small clothes were tied at the knees with ribbon of the same color in double bows, the ends reaching down to the ankles.  His hair in front was well loaded with pomatum, frizzled or craped and powdered.  Behind, his natural hair was augmented by the addition of a large queue called vulgarly a false tail, which, enrolled in some yards of black ribbon, hung half way down his back."[147]

Surely this is enough of the men; let us return to the women.  See the future Dolly Madison at her first meeting with the “great, little Mr. Madison.”  She had lived a Quaker during her girlhood, but she grew bravely over it.  “Her gown of mulberry satin, with tulle kerchief folded over the bosom, set off to the best advantage the pearly white and delicate rose tints of that complexion which constituted the chief beauty of Dolly Todd."[148] The ladies of the Tory class evidently tried to outshine those of the patriot party, and when there was a British function of any sort,—­as was often the case at Philadelphia—­the scene was indeed gay, with richly gowned matrons and maids on the arms of English officers, brave with gold lace and gold buttons.  One great fete or festival known as the “Meschianza,” given at Philadelphia, was so gorgeous a pageant that years afterwards society of the capital talked about it.  Picture the costume of Miss Franks of Philadelphia on that occasion:  “The dress is more ridiculous and pretty than anything I ever saw—­great quantity of different colored feathers on the head at a time besides a thousand other things.  The Hair dress’d very high in the shape Miss Vining’s was the night we returned from Smiths—­the Hat we found in your Mother’s Closet wou’d be of a proper size.  I have an afternoon cap with one wing—­tho’ I assure you I go less in the fashion than most of the Ladies—­none being dress’d without a hoop...."[149]

And, again, perhaps the modern woman can appreciate the following description of a costume seen at the inaugural ball of 1789:  “It was a plain celestial blue satin gown, with a white satin petticoat.  On the neck was worn a very large Italian gauze handkerchief, with border stripes of satin.  The head-dress was a pouf of satin in the form of a globe, the creneaux or head-piece which was composed of white satin, having a double wing in large pleats and trimmed with a wreath of artificial roses.  The hair was dressed all over in detached curls, four of which in two ranks, fell on each side of the neck and were relieved behind by a floating chignon."[150]