Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 March 1880 — Ladies’ Horns. [ARTICLE]

Ladies’ Horns.

We must commiserate the unfortunate Charles VI., who nought to beguile thought in any way, however puerile, when we remember what manner of woman was his coarse and cruel consort, Isabella of Bavaria. Surely no man in his senses can wonder that the sight of her did occasionally scare the imbecile King, for on her head she wore horns, and these grew wider and wider, and, in proportion, higher. This formidable horn head-dress, variously decked with jewels and fur, was introduced into France by the Queen above named, and eventually became so monstrous that, the horns growing at least two yards apart from each other, doorways were enlarged to admit the breadth of them. And not only horns but tails were at that time worn by ladies, and to these robes a queue, or long train dresses were attached sleeves which swept the ground. In addition to ah this it may be observed that ornaments, resembling animals’ ears, were sometimes appended to the horns; but the under garments of this amazing costume were usually of wool or coarse cloth, for flue linen was at that time so rare in France that the mighty Isabella herself possessed but a scant supply of it a 3 a luxury.