The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-08-18

! ufeSseu otcaSionallY, ana whose
thoughts are necessarily occupied a
hout the dress Of her eighburs p
! IN Indian may be as vain Of her
blanket. and a Quaker of her bonnet
and cap. as n coxcomb il Of the
newest fashion, or Courtier OF
his splendid retln0c. And what
would become of the interests of So
ciety, If You prescribe all the orna-
ments.and cun,eniences Of dress ?--
70 what nutold muItitudcs do these
give employment , How large q
portion Ut the church Of God do they
elevate above want and suffering -
How many bcne, client Institutions
are maintained III existence by the
industry Of females. in forming arti-
eles oil mere ornament and fancy -
And how many streams q charity do
they fill, which, without them,wouId
be dry 5?
should be 10th To have these qug-
gesli0na misunderstood or perverted.
| plead not for excess and prolusion
IN apparel. Extravaganza and fine
ry in dress would eeus0re and con-
drmn. A fop, or Il belle, would
hold in steady contempt. All attcu-
ton To personal appearance which
excludes higher and more Important
oh ieGts from the mind, is Inconsistent
with pure religion. Against the
spiendor, gaiety and fcklcncss OF
fashion, the pure and unassuming
influence Of christian picty IL nature
arrayed. And vanity, spIendor and
extravaganza in clothing, are the re-
suit Of IA Yltlatcd taste, and never be-
come the person half so well ~ n
beautiful simplicity and neatness.--
but While say this. cannot believe
that the religion Of the gospel re-
quircs that We should have no regard
to the feelings and opinions Of hu-
man society ; or that we should di-
vest ourselves of the sclt-rcspcct
which renders us respected and use
tul to the world.
II IL possible these thoughts may
oliend-but sure am |, they present
no cause oil offence To the most elf
deny ing mind. There is spirit in
some Of eur most excellent females
in relation To the articles of dress,
that requires n more praycrlul self
examination than it has received.
For myself, | do not believe there
IL any thing praiseworthy IN thatspi-
rit oi female curiosity which inter
feies with the dress oC her fellow
christians, aud would reduce the
taste Of the community to any stan
dard. And | have always found that
those females vino are the most OIL
cions IL those matters, are, with few
exceptions, the very persons who
would lead the fashion, If it were ia
their power. To such persons /
would say, the spirit Of Cod afiirms
OF yirluous woman, that " all her
household are ciothed IN Scarict; that
she maketh herself coverings N Ia
pestrY. and that her ctothing IS silk
and purple"
And the same neatncss and taste
which ought to be discovcrablc in q
lady's person, ought to be s"cn in her
family, her residence, her furniture,
aud that, whether it be ample aud
rich or scan4y and poor. There is
degree Of those virtues which ought
to. pcreadc Il wonan's entire sphere.
aud without Which, society would
degenerate into tie barbarism aud
violence Of the dark ages. And
hence this elevation of character is
always Of the effects Of christianity
upon barbarous nations. 1t Is sad
misconception that the law Of God
excludes every thing that is refined
or ornamental, and restricts human
enioymenls merely to what is nccrs-
sar'y to human subsistence. Coarse
ami depravcd indeed would be that
society in which there is nothing l0l
The ease and convenience of life
SO long a. mankind have n social az
well Is Il moral nature, the cultiva.
ton Of an eles ated and refined spirit
in the female sex, deserves place
among Ter obvious exccllencics. Bat
| vii add,
OF all others, personal picty forms
the distinguished excellence OF the
female character.
/" Favor is dcceitfrl, and beauty is
vain but the woman that iearetl'
tire Lord, she shall be praised. -
The virtues to which We have ailnd-
ed arc the glory Of woman, but piety
constitutes the crown of her glory