Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 July 1887 — Buttons on Coat Cuffs. [ARTICLE]

Buttons on Coat Cuffs.

Everybody of an observant turn of mind has noticed the two or three buttons on the cuffs of military coats, but few know the origin and reason of this custom. They were first worn by soldiers in the English army. The first uniform coats of the English army had no buttons on the cuff’s, and the soldiers used to draw the cuff of their coat across their nose and mouth on every occasion when a pocket handkerchief or napkin might have been called into requisition. As a matter of course, the cuff became shiny and defaced. Punishment and reprimand were tried, but they did not stop this habit, and at last a board of officers met and suggested the buttons on the sleeve, which was adopted. They were first worn on top of the sleeve, but they have moved backward as the handkerchief has moved forward. To-day the uniformcoat of every nation has buttons on the sleeve or cuff.