The Litchfield County post., 1827-09-27

diculOus would she appear to disregard the
spirit OF the age, and cleave to the habilament
of her ancestors, while the prevalent modes
of dress among persons of her own class, are
not inconsistent with mOdesty and decOrum.
And let it not be forgotten, that there is no
intrinsic evil in mere dress of any kind. So
long as the heart is not corrupted, nor the
best interests of men injured by the garments
they wear. they are of little account in the
sight Of God.-And is there no reason to be-
Ileve that vanity may insinuate itself into the
! mind from the love of plainnGsS and singular
| lty ! Do we not all know enough of human
| nature to be satisfied, that a woman who is
habItually well dressed, thinks less of her APP
parel than the woman VINO is we'll dressed on
~ occasionally, and whose thoughts are in
! Cessantly occupied about the dress of her
| neighbours An Indian may be as vain of
her blanket, and Quaker of her bonnet and
cap, as cOxc0mb is Of the newest fashion, OF
courtier of his splendid retinue. And what
would become of the interests of society, if
/ you prescribe all the ornaments and conven-
! fences of dress? To what untold multitudes
do these give useful employment? How ma
ny benevolent institutions are maintained in
existence by the industry of females, in form
! ing articles of mere ornament and fancy
And how many streams Of charity do they fill
which without them would be dry?
| II should he loath-to have these sugges-
| tons misunderstood or perverted. I plead
not for profilsion of apparel. Extravaganza
and finery in. dress would censurc and con-
denim. A Fop, or a belle, would hold in
steady contempt. All attention to personal
J appearance which excludes higher and more
| important objects from the mind, is inconsis-
tent with pure regiOn.-Against the splen-
! dor, gaiety, and fckleness of fashions, the
pure and unasumng influence of christian pi-
ETY. is natvely arrayed. And vanity, SPLEEN
dor, and extravaganza in clothing, are the re-
suit of a vltiated taste, and never become the
person half SO well as a beautiful simplicity
! and neatness. But while say this, cannot
believe the religion of the gospel requires that
we should have no regard to the feelings and
opinions of society or that we should divest
| ourselves of that self-respect, which renders
us respected and useful in the world.
| 1t is possible these thoughts may offend.
But sure am |, they present no cause of of
fence to the most self-denying mind. There
| is spirit in some of our most excellent fe-
males in relation to the article of dress, that
| requires more prayerful differentiation
| than it has received. For myself | do not
believe there is any thing praise-worthy in
that spirit Of female curiosity, which inter-
| feres with the dress Of her fellow christians,
and would reduce the taste of the commune
ty to one standard. And have always
| found that those females who are the most Of
ficious in these matters, are. with few excep-
tons, the very persons who would lead the
fashion, if it were in their power. To such |
would say, the spirit of God afIirms of vir-
tuous. woman, that " all her household are
clothed IN scarlet; that she maketh herself
coverings Of tapestry, and that her clothing is
silk and purple"