The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-06-30 00:00:00

ODDMENT PAPEIIB.
No. 1.

Happening to he an odil person, fond of spying into ether
folk's business, and especially noting the odd qualities,
tmites, and odd dress of faith the sexes, I bethought
inc that some of my observations might serve to beguile • ,
few ill,, minutes. so I pen them. I said of both the sexes;
for it is an undeniable fact that although those of the
feminine gentler do dresa to extravagantly, and often
grotesqueli • yet thaw of the masculine, who aneer at them
behind their backs, will pass by • neatly drafted woman
and marry the fashionably dressed one. I often wonder
when I see some of smart/7, dressed maidens, who think
i 1 dress, dream 1 areas, plan to dress, is it possible that
they luive a soul I-that there is a great future lying
before them, where, dress certainly will not be much
thought of. Nearly every thought is spent on the decora-
tion of their bodies; and really to notice their manner,
one would almost imagine that God had made them of
auperior dust to their lees favoured sisters, who do not
prance alsiut in the rising when they ought to be at
home ; who do not rejoice Its false braids at sixpence three
farthings each ; and whose outward attire does not cover
stockings and ragged underclothing. You ins;
1,,,e the,e, extraordinary seeciruens of womankind by
dozens in our strocts ; and U, Lord of Creation thou
superior an, ho walked' about with a cigar stuck in thy
mouth, this foolish show is for thee ! What credit to thy
discerning towers ! Your extraordinary foresight does
not hid you notice that pin Si skillfully placed to fasten
a frill instead of needle and thread, or a thought anent
buttonless shirts might ff ish sicrceo Your mind, unless you
are egotistical,, gli to imagine that ahe would do for you
what she would not do for herself. And again, you forget
that the Mance, of your rhoioe-when we remember your
stieers-611.1W11 the tendency of your mind so sure as the
straw the direetion of the current, and no doubt your fair
friend discover* this. MO so her straws teen in the same
direction, in hopes, perhaps, that there will be a mutual
journey down the net of life, with no thought of the
stones or rapids; but only the all-absorbing one of dress.
Is it to be expected that the though', the planning, will
1..' given up when maidenhood merges into wifehood
NO, the 10V0 of &esti is hard to conquer-perhaps as hard
as anything. There is an much to encounter.-so many
sneer,. -so much of studied avoidance-the cold shoulder
of so many particular friends; and so the husbands greet-
ing is " money, money ;" and a miserable home, wife
gone out visiting, and the children crying; and then the
man perhaps takes to drink, anti all its attendant
miseries follow ; and whoae fault is it The husband
blames the wife, and the wife the husband, and mutual
carvelling follows, beaten ill-brought up children struggle
Into life, and wleeie fault is it? Is it that pretty tastily
drew,' woman whom you may meet, an pleasant looking,
MO exquisitely lady-like, whom sinert showmen call "
beeaufie it calls up a blush of gratulation, or because it
may open the purse, the contents of which ieight tube
spent so very differently I Ur is it that foolish man who
married in haste, and now repents at leisure-a haanter of
the de/cab- shadoi (I -a walking beer-barrel-a swinish
moan, who has a leer for any pretty woman who
happens to glance at him? No. it is not
r. much his fault as hers - - yea. I mean
. . . . . .

what I have just penned. Woman's place is hoe,
and ninny men are driven from home, because the s'fe
Is not there; and when she has been there, she is
husy altering a dress to the latest fashion, or trimming v
new hat, while he wears leattonlesa shirts, or maybe
elbows conies thrott.gbe h the arms; and it is no uncommeet,
thing for his tees to thrust through his stockinga, to
inn...tient'', tern off Resin, while he Reeks another par,
which are not quite so had, having only one large hole in
the heel mid by-and.hye they get ohl, and snap and
snarl at each other like only cross old people can, and jeer
and slicer, instead of resting calmly and happily after
their work, lie always smells of drink, and she—well,
she nutdress so fashionably now, so she dresses anyhow
)on know what that means. Al,!and then conies Death,
and after death—Judgment And no children speak
lovingly of thorn. Old tap-room scores are sent in--old
dressmakers accountsare enclosed in unsuspicious looking
envelopes, demanding immediate payment; and is it
natural to love such parents—can chi Wren do it? No.
R. S.