Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-05-11
Aqpter 7.
ON naESs

your dress may be expressive oil deli
eacy and purity Of mind Behold q
,0omdn IN the attire of hGrtotl ex.
claimed the wise man OH Denoiding an
indecorus dress. And such when a wo
man appears in public with bare DO
some, exposure OF figure perhaps with
rouged checks, It cannot be acting too
severely TO adopt the language, and cry
out in disgust, behold a aUoman IN
the attire of harl0t = What a acife,
mother, in such dressl O all We feel
ings of virtue and proprIety, rescue
onr mltroEs from the degradation!
Would 'they but rene It for a moment,
could "women in general" Pas Mrs. ii.
More says, 'kno" what was their real
interest, could they guess with what
charm even the appearance OF modes
~ invests its, possessor, they would
dress decorously from mere seiflove
if not from principle The designing
would assume modes'y as an arlilice;
the coqueite would adopt it as allure
inent; the pure as her appropriate at
traction and the voluptuous as the most
in!allible art Of seduction"
There is not an hour in the day in
which man 50 much likes TO see his
,vifc dressed with neatness. as when
she leaves her bed room, aud sets down
to breakfast. 4, any other moment
UGpity stimulates her efforts at the TOT
le;te, for she expects to see and to be
seen bot at this retired and early hour,
it is for the sake OF cleanliness, for the
very sake oil pleasing her husband, that
she appears thus neat and nice Some
one says, A woman should never ap
pear untidiiy or badly dressed, when
IN the presence of her husband While
he was your lover, what sad piece
OF business if he caught yon dressed
to disadvantagel-"O dear there he
is, and my hair all IN papers and this
frgh'iul unbecoming cap! l bad no i
dca he would have been here so early
let me- off TO my toilette" But now
that he is your husband, Dear me,
what consequence? My Objects gain
ed; my efforts % win him, and all my
little mau9uvres to captivate, have
been successful, and it is very hard
II woman islo pass her life in Ell
dcapouriDg TO please her husband" /
remember greatly admitting a lady Who
iIved among the mountains, and scarce
ly Saw any one hut her husband. She
was rather plain woman; aud vet
when sat TO breakfast each morning.
and all the dnv long, her extreme neat
nessand attention to the niceness Of her
appearance, made hei quiet an agree
able object; and her husband loved her
and would look al her with more plea
sure than at pretty woman dressed
solled and untidiIy: for believe me.
those things (hough your husband an.
pears not to notice them, nor perhaps
Is he himself conscious of the cause)
strongly possess the power Of pleasing
or dispteasing,
have great dislike to see wo
mans dress exceed the expence which
l know her husband can afford, fine
laces and silks and scanty purse i'll
matched associates When / hear a
woman of small fortune say her pc
isse or lace cap cost a large sum, at
once think'it libel not only on her
understanding but herprnclpie.
will now conclude this subiect
with the apostles sentiment, when
speaking of Christian wives: Whose
adjoining says he let it not be that out
ward adjoining plating the hair, and
of wearing gold, or of putting on of
apparel; hut let it be the hidden man
OF the heart; in that which is not cor
ruptible, even the ornament ola meek
and quiet spirit, which is in the sight
OF God ofgteat price Il Pet. ia l, g,
a These words"a meek and quiet
spirit" make at this moment a most
powerful impression on my mind and
have excited the following reflections
to which, gentle lady, beg to direct
your attention 1t is not to be suppo
sed the apostle alluded to the meek and
quiet spirit which is so often produced
by nature, or constitution, or perhaps
by insenslbhty, and which costs US
nothing TO attain @ no! the meekness
aud quierness he speaks of, must be
The effect, not of constitution, but of
principle; not OF naiure but of grace
know many women who would be
gentle PAgans as well as gentle Chris
fans; who would be meek jfthrre Was