Etiquette and French Calves

According to all rules of precedent and etiquette, if knee breeches must be donned, and nature has been unkind to the wearer he must call in artificial aid.

Coronation Calves to Order
A Parisian Industry Being Boomed by Thin British Shanks

Parisians must and will be amused. When there is nothing to occupy their attention they upset ministries and raise barricades. Consequently one must not begrudge them their joke, even if it is a “false calf.” 

It would appear, or at least Parisian news-sheets tell us so, that a certain quantity of artificial calves are being manufactured in Paris in view of the Coronation festivities. We are not all Pickwicks, with a well-filled gaiter, and when, according to all rules of precedent and etiquette, knee breeches must be donned, if nature has been unkind to the wearer he must call in artificial aid. Consequently the trade in artificial calves is very brisk. 

It has been found, however, that even without such an incentive as the coronation fetes the artlficial-calf industry is regularly occupied in manufacturing such articles for home consumption. Frenchmen must not chaff England in this respect, for every year numerous French cyclists, society men—yes, and society women —invest thirty francs in padding for their nether limbs. 

We must therefore add another article to the list of adulterated and imitated goods mentioned above, for even legs are not always what they seem. —From the Los Angeles Herald, as printed in the Paris Messenger, 1902

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia