The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-12-03
LyNcnBURG, DECEMBER ., lass
Inn III NlnaIsIAA

the nnme ol which | have used ~ a sigma
fure. | have tlnnr this. becaise wish my
exampl, ~ consist with thu sentiment hul
about 10 ind.c. ,rwing haman nature "a
the various siln1iinns which Il either as
sumcs or is east b, inetIiable necessity II
surely isa,abiectuf curious speculation.
II alternately deserves CTR contempt or
COMMUNICATION sometimes mingled on1o-
lions of both. Amongst tie idle leViiles 10
which il il incident. nothing IN the whole
range Of the triGer furnishes a stranger
argument of its insignfcapce aud weakness
than most tenacious adherence Ia tashion.
In Justice, however, and IN honor to The in
tcligent and belter-brcd part 81 the com
Inunity, they furnish a consoloiaty eNeep-
ton 10 the above remark. This Itching,
tr,s vain and dctestable propensity 10 APP
pear al mode, alllicts a portion of every
age, from fifteen Ia approximation. In
general, when you see Il fellow absorbcd,ln
irving into The cut and fration of north
ern mau'r apparel.i yen may set II down
he inctrs one of the following imputatl0ns
that he is either a man of eiiglnal obscu-
rity, who has been exalted by imaginary or
accidental success, " perhaps th, bcuciiela-
nv of anolher's bounty 0r what Is most IL
Universally true, of great intellectual weak
ness and vanity. l DO not advocate an ut
ter extinction Of thdngt innovation IN
dress should reyulye with the Seasons, aud
b. adapted To them. The proprets of
particular fashion should be the subject OF
an enlightened taste--tastc, chasiised aud
tempered down by sense and refinement,
not modified by the Interested, eapriclons
4 II he llIn
WITNESSES of putl and strut" who may
come 20 town. In eur days, when vapid
coxcomb leaves the place of bis residence
with the ayowed object To- store his mind
with scholastic 0r professional Information,
he uniformly returns home Ia the griei aud
modification of his friends, without being
able to make any other exhibition than,
that this is ton individually or this II
the latest edition of bodily attitude in
mornings salutatjen y when, IN every rea-
sonable conjecture he is The NJ. ). of the
thing about which he is dlscomsug. II IS
enough TO make man of manners shed
tears 10 see " such perlwig-pated fellows
--mere vampires crawling from the slnks
ofgenuinc politeness, annoying the com
pany in which they move b. ptrHussioh.'
These are general observations, and the
harsliness Of say criticism, would he JUST
fed by The ofiens,cnrss Of the thing cen
surcd. The embracing oi the bringing on
of new and fantastic modes ot dress, - oh
iectionabe on the score ol expense, as well
as the ridicule aud sarcastic animadyer
sion which the persun incurs, aud which he
may never learn, il he has not some kind
aud ingenious friend 10 whom hc ~ very
accessible. Persons may talk about a
head strong independence, winch they are
FesolVed shall resist the current of public o.
pinion--yet, they will sooner or later slnk,
and that, like Lucilrr, 10 rise no more-it,
indeed, they can sink 10 a degre, lower than
that which they NOW occupy. i.etus have
modes end customs oil onr own, aud be re-
leased iromihe slarish opprohrluul, of eat
ius drigking, talking, dressing, visiting after
inc manner OF the people Of The literary
rmporum," or any other ct our large ci
lies. Ape the etiquette ol civilized nrbani-
", ifyou artfesol,cd un being conspicuous;
hat will be recognised every where, il not
attended TO- II is the same yesterday, to-
day, and forever. Copy nature, beautiful
Iy unadorncd. How truly disgusting it is,
TO sec young men in our days, with little or
are attributed To them by a few well-wish-
ing rarastical friends or relatives, Napour-
ihg about, Lords paramount, whose east-
city seems eager to leave the thick ro-
tandity Of the globe dealing uat technical
terms, uerba sc7qUpldaid, the scientific ar
classic application of which they know as
little as they do about the climate Of the
moon, or the government, of the Salaman-
dcrs. Persons Of this description seem TO
triumph in their own ideal Importance &
will seem to lay down a nominal argum, Mt
upon proposition, s. in refua,ion thereof,
with as much ltnpudcner as iithe hy-stand-
ers believed hcs knew Que word ahout the
matter. had as eye he visited by a ter
tian ague. as suffer an intrusion OF this sort
They are perpetually offended by n depar-
ture from FIRST rate ci,ity, and in them you
behold shiigng instance of its depraity.
At public ian ard other places, they are
dlspleased with the preparations for dinner !;
and every genteel man must mind what he
- about closely, or nauseate at the fastldi-
Gus complaints OF these delicate topllngs.-
What a lamentable thing il is that parents
do not admonisb thsir children more upon
the precepis Of CONNIE propmety, but still
more are they TO he piticd when blinded by
Abolish, parental preposse6sion, they con
strue this Tow-brcd coxcomch behaviour,
!lto the Establishments OF stylish lie |
have yearned in compassion 10 see parents
ceaselass and unwearied in their exer;ions
10 provides little taeata to decorate the idol
OF the heart before whom they bend in pro
found and basphemous alteration, and are
recompensed with ingratitude, " sharper
than serpenf's teoth." Ingratitude a
monster 600 hideous for the vision Of huma-
njty to repose upon. How shameful it is
M suffer such enthusiastic devotion TO lead
them utterly astray, aad TO hide the black
est traits with an ihpervious cloud. How
often, aud let il be said with emotion, have