Anciently a deed, which, requiring a counterpart, was engrossed twice on the same piece of parchment, with a space between, in which was written chirograph, through which the parchment was cut, and one part given to each party. It answered to what is now called a charter-party.
Chirographs are medieval documents sometimes subdivided by a pattern resembling the fence-like design on Charlie Brown’s shirt.
I prefer to wear clothing with no advertising and which makes no statement. I don’t like the invitation to comment that comes with publicly wearing a shirt with something like a sports team logo or city name.
I used to invite this type of attention with bolder sartorial adventures, but I find I do not welcome the possibility of unsolicited comments to follow me in public places.
When the laundry must be done, however, I find myself wearing an older shirts from when I dressed more flamboyantly, and in particular I wear a shirt bearing an illustration of Charles Schulz’s "Peanuts" gang. This shirt makes me feel like the most popular person around. It prompts smiles and conversations from strangers and acquaintances alike.
And it makes me nervous. I dress plainly to avoid these encounters.
