The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-06-12
From he Providence .imarjrao


Dress. Fashion is every thing 10 the ladies
and We have no manner OF doubt, should il ever
he made a constitutional ques tion thai the fee
cuio, ments OF then rights IN this respect is As
unlliondblc aud as clearly secured 10 them un.
Ter the Declaration oflndcpendence. as the cN-
crcse OF freedom Of opinion, or the protection OF
life, liberty, and the pursuit OF happiness 10 tile
other sex. Indeed II comes dnectI, within the
latter provision, ior happiness mani, conssis
IN pleasing one 5 self and attracting the ndmiIa
ton uthcrS--the origin, cni and ann Of the
pun suit ufhShion. In "A fine lady ; creed there
fore, the pursuit Oi fashion is synonymous with
the pursuit OF happiness. Upon no other pm
ciplt can the immense Saciliic made at thr
shrue OF fashion be accounted tor aud these
snorniCes are to he regarded not merely as the
Indie rtions of personal vauitY, lat also of IN
tminhlc disposition TO please that de htinl at
tribute ofscltuve, which, according 10 Pope
forms the strongest bond IN the social compact
We rely upon these HnAIomS as sufficient
justification of any absurdit, INTO which given
fashion may he supposed to run. Utility or the
htncsS of things, Though 10 be sure every
thing must NJ, IN order to have any claim 10 tin
sanction ct iashlon,) has nothing 10 do viii
The cut of a garment, the figure OF head dress
or the shape OF bonnet and lac who under
takes to measure them by these principles vii
find ms labour as unavalling as II he should at
tempt to take the height OF the Peak of Icn.-
nlilc, or the Cn conference OF the Atlantic with
4 foot rule. Aud yea there are some very wise
Ncope who pretend Ia CritIcise AN article ofdress
as il It were possible 10 reduce to CERTAIN
Jules the never ending changes Of personal de-
corauon.
The FIRST thing to inquire, on the appearance
OF some new discovery or in, ention IN the scr
ence OF dress, (lor that which Is - profounr i.
" AMI universally studied certainly deserves the
dlGnhcd appellatlon OF a scence.) Is not nhelh.
err conforms TO certain notions OF ptnpfiety
orto tue common principles of good taste, or
any taste AT all, but simply whence 1t comes,
and by HON II is panonized II the fashion,
able Mrs. \. and the dashng Miss h. and the
tasty Miss {. sport a something, suImountng
an elegant head OF natural or n tilicia halr as
the case may he, the CONFORMATION OF which
said something IS such Mt one tune TO cause il
10 sit upon or rather the head. like the top OF
a Cohrc-pot thrown baCl. aPon the handle. and
that too, in spite Of 4 summers sun. pouring
upon the bhSiermg face, o. "A winters north
easter, pushing into the apertures of bloodless
cars, and purpling the iurest coniplexlon--or
at another time ilapping with b,lm OF the di.
menNInnS Ola shop door awning, suppoI ting "A
straight crown, the size and some" hal the
shape ola milk-man's pint measute,--who shall
presume to galnsay it as an exhibition of the
purest taste, the highest ton, the most finished
elegance With certain people it Is moi the
dress that makes them fashionable, but they
that make the dress so, and those who are moi
blessed with this most truly enviable distinction
must be fam TO initiate as we'll as they can for
one OF the great secrets v ith the lady laui-tons
OF fashion, is to hit upon some ingenious absurdl-
~ One nsller the better, provided IT cost a
power ofmoney) which snail longest defy the
aspiring ambition of the humber votaries OF
style for the moment the grand discovery Is
transmitted through my ladY's maid TO the cook
andithe kitchen "euch, il must be thrown nsde
as monstrously vulgar. 1t is in this way cur
ideas q; any thing elegant in dress are made 10
conform To the estimation in which the wearer IS
held, as person Of fashion, rather than TO tix-
Ell rues and thus We admire TO day as the pink
OF mode, what Tomorrow we shall CONSIDER the
height OF vulgarity, merely from its having been
cast of by The leaders ofstyle and taken ny by
Tie initsiors.