Official Wears Satin Breeches: Toronto Folk Are Startled
Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 3:28 am
Official Wears Satin Breeches
Ontario's Lieutenant Governor Appears in a Gorgeous Windsor Court Uniform.
TORONTO FOLK ARE STARTLED
People of Dominion Worrying Over the Safety of Their Holdings in Mexico.
[Special telegram to Gazette Times.]
TORONTO, Feb. 15.—When Sir John Gibson, lieutenant governor of the province of Ontario, arrived in state to open the Legislature the other day, he surprised the natives with his gorgeous Windsor uniform, including white satin knee breeches and white silk stockings. This is the first appearance of the white satin breeches at a state occasion in Toronto and the democrats, who, however, are not quite as numerous as one would expect from the professions of the nation, scarcely knew what to make of them.
White satin breeches have been the custom at Ottawa for some time—seven years, to be exact. They are the chief outward sign of a civil uniform of the second class, which is now the prerogative at state occasions in Canada of federal cabinet ministers, of privy councillors, whether they are in the cabinet or not and of lieutenant governors. Previous to seven years ayo these distinguished persons were entitled only to the civil uniform of the third class. This was not entirely satisfactory. In the first place, the third class uniform is not pretty. It has, it is true, gold braid and buttons, but it does not differ materially from a bellboy’s uniform—a sort of glorified combination suit—in its effect upon the eye. In the second place, it did not distinguish cabinet ministers from their deputies, who are also entitled to the third class uniform. Thirdly, it made them look cheap when they appeared at court functions over the sea. But lastly and chiefly, the third class uniform lacked the white satin breeches.
So there were years of envy and discontent and bickerings with the lord chamberlain until finally Sir John Han-bury-Williams, who was chief of staff for Earl Gray as governor general, secured a step up to second class uniform for the leading Canadian officials.
Breeches Fatal to Pioneer.
Since then the white satin breeches have come on with a rush. The first to wear them at a state function was Jabez Snowball, lieutenant governor of New Brunswick. He actually anticipated by some years formal consent, but figuratively he dared anyone to take them off him, and he got away with it. A visitor, a Maj. Wilcksbad, came nest, but he caught pneumonia and died. These these were the pioneers in the movement. Now the use of the white breeches is general, and they do say that they are worn by some who are not entitled to them. On the other hand a few of the old guard decline to adopt the new-fangled fancy dress. Sir Mackenzie Bonell formerly premier, now a remarkably active and bright nonogenarian, will have none of them. The old dark trousers are pood enough for him, and when he doesn't like that uniform he will dress “like a gentleman” in regular evening dress. But he is an exception. Officialdom has jumped at the white satin breeches, the $750 a suit being a small obstacle.
Sir John Gibson, who has introduced the white breeches to Toronto, believes in upholding provincial dignity, and he has pet an example which will no doubt be follpwed by all succeeding lieutenant governors here. Sir John is widely known in the United States as a past grand master of the Masonic order.
The Pittsburgh Gazette Times, Sunday, February 16, 1913. First Section—Page Four.
Ontario's Lieutenant Governor Appears in a Gorgeous Windsor Court Uniform.
TORONTO FOLK ARE STARTLED
People of Dominion Worrying Over the Safety of Their Holdings in Mexico.
[Special telegram to Gazette Times.]
TORONTO, Feb. 15.—When Sir John Gibson, lieutenant governor of the province of Ontario, arrived in state to open the Legislature the other day, he surprised the natives with his gorgeous Windsor uniform, including white satin knee breeches and white silk stockings. This is the first appearance of the white satin breeches at a state occasion in Toronto and the democrats, who, however, are not quite as numerous as one would expect from the professions of the nation, scarcely knew what to make of them.
White satin breeches have been the custom at Ottawa for some time—seven years, to be exact. They are the chief outward sign of a civil uniform of the second class, which is now the prerogative at state occasions in Canada of federal cabinet ministers, of privy councillors, whether they are in the cabinet or not and of lieutenant governors. Previous to seven years ayo these distinguished persons were entitled only to the civil uniform of the third class. This was not entirely satisfactory. In the first place, the third class uniform is not pretty. It has, it is true, gold braid and buttons, but it does not differ materially from a bellboy’s uniform—a sort of glorified combination suit—in its effect upon the eye. In the second place, it did not distinguish cabinet ministers from their deputies, who are also entitled to the third class uniform. Thirdly, it made them look cheap when they appeared at court functions over the sea. But lastly and chiefly, the third class uniform lacked the white satin breeches.
So there were years of envy and discontent and bickerings with the lord chamberlain until finally Sir John Han-bury-Williams, who was chief of staff for Earl Gray as governor general, secured a step up to second class uniform for the leading Canadian officials.
Breeches Fatal to Pioneer.
Since then the white satin breeches have come on with a rush. The first to wear them at a state function was Jabez Snowball, lieutenant governor of New Brunswick. He actually anticipated by some years formal consent, but figuratively he dared anyone to take them off him, and he got away with it. A visitor, a Maj. Wilcksbad, came nest, but he caught pneumonia and died. These these were the pioneers in the movement. Now the use of the white breeches is general, and they do say that they are worn by some who are not entitled to them. On the other hand a few of the old guard decline to adopt the new-fangled fancy dress. Sir Mackenzie Bonell formerly premier, now a remarkably active and bright nonogenarian, will have none of them. The old dark trousers are pood enough for him, and when he doesn't like that uniform he will dress “like a gentleman” in regular evening dress. But he is an exception. Officialdom has jumped at the white satin breeches, the $750 a suit being a small obstacle.
Sir John Gibson, who has introduced the white breeches to Toronto, believes in upholding provincial dignity, and he has pet an example which will no doubt be follpwed by all succeeding lieutenant governors here. Sir John is widely known in the United States as a past grand master of the Masonic order.
The Pittsburgh Gazette Times, Sunday, February 16, 1913. First Section—Page Four.
