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From: jcp@osiris.UUCP (Jody Patilla)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: Shirt buttons
Message-ID: <253@osiris.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 23-Apr-85 11:11:00 EST
Article-I.D.: osiris.253
Posted: Tue Apr 23 11:11:00 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 26-Apr-85 04:20:43 EST
References: <1649@decwrl.UUCP> <2587@ihuxf.UUCP> <362@ttidcc.UUCP> <1283@watdcsu.UUCP>
Organization: Johns Hopkins Hospital
Lines: 21

> In article <362@ttidcc.UUCP> hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (The Polymath) writes:
> >>	BTW, do you know why men's suitcoats have buttons on the
> >>sleeves?
> >
> >My understanding is that Napoleon invented that design  to  discourage  his
> >officers from wiping their noses on their sleeves.
> 
> i have seen paintings from the mid-18th century that have the buttons
> already.  whether Napoleon actually invented is highly unlikely, but
> i have heard the same reasons for having them.  certainly they were invented
> around or just before Napoleon's time.
 	
	Originally, those buttons had a use. A man's coat cuffs could be
unbuttoned and folded back to reveal his fancy, lacey shirt cuffs. These
pre-date the sack coat (that is, suit or sports jacket).
-- 
  

jcpatilla

"'Get stuffed !', the Harlequin replied ..."