Re: MtMan-List: underwear

[Casapy123@aol.com]

The book NaugaMok refers to is "The History of Underclothes" by C. Willett and
Phillis Cunnington, Dover Publications, Inc, New York, 1992.  It is really
quite an interesting history.  Indeed the "union suit" was available in the
1890's, well after the fur trade period.  In England, they were called
"combinations."  Allen Chronisters description of underwear for the
mountaineer is well described in this book, complete with pictures.  It is
written mostly from a British prospective, but still relates what was in
fashion in Europe during throughout history.

Also, on the topic of long underwear, in "Partridge's Concise Dictionary of
Slang and Unconventional English," by Eric Partridge, abbridged with new
material in the Macmillan Publishing edition of 1984, "John L.s" were long
underpants after the old boxing gear worn by John L. Sullivan.  Sullivan was a
boxer in the late 1880s, the height of his career being 1882-92.  Long johns
derived their name from this.

Jim Hardee, AMM#1676
PO. Box1228
Quincy, CA  95971
(530)283-4566 (H)
(530)283-3330 (W)
(530)283-5171 FAX
Casapy123@aol.com