Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-01-06
COMMUNICATIONS.
THE CLUB-No. XXI.
In aosa ert Gnin.u, .nu.a.as deere Jo-mas


;, Corpora. uviD.
1 have recently been reading Chesterheids
Letters over again, for about The fifth or sixth
time since ! came 10 mau's estate, and have
been, more than ever, thoroughly convinced that
the sentiments formed concei ring them, when
was young, are correct, and based upon rea-
son and common sense. Tha, these sentiments
are, at least, subject often dwell upon and en-
forced in these celebrated ieters, will be found
in what follows
Dress was originally designed for use.
entirely TO the exclu sion Of ornament. BY very
natural degrees, however, the tastes and
fancies Of men urged them 10 adorn their oul>
ward garments, * to add 20 their own personal
appearance. by decorating The covering OF their
bodies. This practice exists among The most
barbarous and uncivilized nations; and II is no
wonder that, as reinemen, and luxury extended
their sway, they Should call in, as powerful
auxiliary, FAsHIoN--a poteu'aie at present bear
ing great sway, and Of acknowledged insor-
,ance.-Especially, 100, when we consider the
influence upon cultivated socie y Of the female
sex, who are provrfbial for their admiration OF
DRESS, we should not wonder that The most
polished nations are particularly The votaries
OF the deity (whatever his name may beg who
presides aver The cutting Of garments, and the
1
however in every thing else, We have run to ex-
,rrmes; and that which, in itself, is by no means
lreprshensible, has, by over straining, ridiou'
lous aft C alton and vain pride, come to be de.
serving Of censure, reptoach and con'empt.-
There is more reason in The gaudy paint Of the
Savage-ihe taiooed skin Of he African, and
the shaver crown Of The Chinese-,han there
is in the present mode Of fashionable dressing.
speak not here of the ladies-They claim, in
matters Of this sort, :" as large charter as the
winL"-nor de believe they ever abused
their privilege: | am not believer in The doc
trine Of the Poe, tina,
"Beauty, when unadorned. isyet adorned the nest
and, of course, do MOI include the sex IN any OF
,ne structures which sm about TO make.
II may be prejudice on my part. but the SEN
timent appears 10 be incorporated into my very
nature, that love of dress is the distinguish
irg characteristic OF weax mind. | never
heard Of more than one or Two really great
men, who effected any thing like dandyism -
and with these ii did indeed appear 10 be affec-
ta,ion.
Vain coxcombs, eoncei,ed prigs, and inpu-
dent popinisys, make il point to ensconce
their detachable bodies in the mos, ridiculous
dresses that the folly of fashion has ever pres
cribed. With them, the idea oi appearing
fashionable uutwei chs every orher consideration.
They willingly sacrifice nea ness aud gen'ility o
sx,rayaga nce and outrageous uglincss, provie-
ed the imn,olatioC is made a, the shrine OF FASH
ION. Initiating the weak points, and copying
after the most trivial desires cfthe other sex
they think more Of he utof coat than tn y
do Of the improvement Of their minds, and prize
more highly the lie OF a crava ,h'n they would
the most valuable knowledge they. could &C :,
hpo in &.
ing in the most prepos'erous and absurd man
ner; Grace, in being the copyis, OF monkey:
and Geniility, in acting The fool. Reason Cab
no. exer, ITS mighty influence over their con
duct, because their minds are SD constituted IS
TO put at defiance lis powers Proof alike asa'ns'
the shafts of ridcule and the weight of argu-
ment, these gilded buuerfii,s skim slong the
surface # life, the objects of contempt, and,
sometimes, even,of -obhorrenee.
So far DO carry nv notions in This affair,
thai have q much grealer respect for slo,en,
than nave for a man who runs 10 The 9th, r
cxueme in The way OF dress The onr may a.
least have the mind to despise, what the other
has not sensr enough TO s.e.
III bandbox meanness which distinguishes
some men, ex Nibits the narrowness Of intellec,
whicA Cannot x,enl It's refle lions beyond a sui,
e clothes While the braggari style assumed
by other 6ioods, assures us either that they are
mushrooms in socie'y, or tx remedy in want
Of something by which TO show their conse-
qaence.
To be fnical in person and dondyish in dress,
is at once TO acknowledge that We are 10 love
with ourselves Self esteem is too ap, TO throw
a spell over The mind Hence the ridiculous
arts resor,ed to, in order 10 keep up our ideas
of ourselves.
These remarks, written currenfe calamo ought
TO have some wright, especisiiy wnen iii. read
ers recolrc' ,ha, they are from an old bachelor
who has experience well as judgment to teach
him. THEOPHlLUS WIGGlNS
Mn EDlToR-Of all the casiigalions inHict.
ed on he Secretary Of Wars port, none was
SO vere,--none possessed such keenness Of
satire, as that from the editorial pen of the
+" Commercial Advertiser" of New York. l
frankly say SO; for, although sound Ja, kso.
man, l sprak thus-no, because love EATON
less, but grammar more. Indeed it peases
ne TO see sound criticism applied to the style