For 100 years the indigent aged who live in New York City's municipal poor houses on Staten and Welfare Islands, have been issued standard raiment. In a century it has grown almost as quaint as the outfits of Beefeaters in London's Tower. For men it consists of high shoes with elastic inserts like Congress gaiters and cotton suits whose intrinsic shapelessness is a true reflection of the style of nightshirt in which they have to sleep. For women it consists of coarse cotton mother hubbards, black cotton stockings, shoes like the men's,...
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