The Oldest Dress in the World.

North Otago Times, 2 December 1911, Page 3 (Supplement)

The Oldest Dress in the World.

What Is probably the oldest dress In the world hasten described by a French traveller In Japan, It Wongs to an Empress of Japan who lived. In. tho thirteenth century, and It has been kopt all these centuries In a temple In Yokohama, whore the priests exhibit It for sufficient reward. It is kept la an old coffer, awl Ib shrouded in white ellk. The rohe, or tho robes, for there are seven of them, are described as a diaphanous mass, crumbling alt the edges with decay. The material Is crepe, or some filmy stuff. It is made with a long train, pagoda sleeves; and a high collar llko a Siedlcls ruff. The upper layer was onco white, and Is now too colour of Ivory, ombroldered with- flying birds. Then come six layers of the silk mus-lin-yellow, Wuo, violet, old gold, and green, on which seem scattered, strange animals, all In flight, The seventh, which touches the body of the long-dead empress, Is violet, embroldered with figures like phantoms. The embroidery on this wonderful robe Is said to be as transparent as the gauze."