All the upper and middle classes of Christendom centre themselves to one focus of taste and merge into one plastic commonwealth, to be shaped and moulded virtually by a common tailor.
Their coats, vests, pantaloons, boots and shoes are made substantially after the same pattern.

For a while, hats stood out with some show of pluck and patriotism, and made a stand for national individuality, but it was in vain.

They, too, succumbed to the inexorable law of Uniformity.

That law was liberal in one respect.

It did not insist that the stove-pipe form should rule inflexibly.