Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-04-03
For TIE WuIu.

ARISTOTLE.
For TIE WING.
! Mcssrs. Editors: am not old az Mcthusaleh
indeed have no expectation that ever shall
be, but my memory runs back some few wears
must confess tho that of all the wears have ,nv
decided remembrance of having vcgitated throuub
this present ono of 1892, seems most tccming with
every thing, that can demonstrate sthc march of
the mind, and the progress of public erposement ~
among us. To mention all, or very MANY of tho
evidences Of this, my modcstv forbids INV ATTEMPT.
ing, but shall glance at some few which are so
very evident and palpablc, that | do not think
cah lay claim to extraordinary pcnctra-
ton or observation, for noticing them And
hrSt, as the mind is more noble than the BODY |
must raise my "small, still voice." in commcnda
ton OF the all pcrvadng and certainly very lauda
olc thirst Tor knowledge, which is evidenced by the
avldlty with which all classes and sexes flock to
Wow and investigate the wonderful astonishing
ana amusing fcats, performed by two public spirit
CD individuals, who manitcstly put themselves to
considerable inconvenience and trouble, the one
IN swallowing fire, molten lead and other touch me-
not substances, and the other in suspcndinp him.
SCH by the neck, and cutting in that situation VA
lic'y OF understandable capers, with the humane in
tention doubtless of dispelling the uncomfortable
lc"rs entertained, by many of citizens, of the
process called hanging. Truly such public spirit.
cd and patriotic persons deserve the warmest
! thanks OF the whole commu unity ''Man is an
INITIATIVE ANIMAL" certainly, nd what noblcr en-
Poymcnt could one follow, than to initiate exactly
the manners, motions and voice ola monkey; or TO
| convince the dyspcptic hippocondriacs that the
digestive organs of man may be equal TO- nav
may surPass those OF an ostrich? Even am as
| tonlshcd, and unable to conceive how he ncts rid
OF the lead, for l presume it coos and hardens of
ter Il while. L know there are many who bciun
very sufficiently 'wise enough in their own con-
cctS' are inclined to dcspise others, and who NAV
| perhaps differ from me- in my estimate of these
public bcnetactors, but would ask them TO inform
me, why long dissertations and books are yearly
poured forth upon the people, containing accounts
| OF hought save the manners and propcnsitics of
| the lower ranks of creation? For the improve
ment of mankind, they would say-That is ex-
cessIve!y true but would not that object be soon
ef ana better accomplished by pcrsonating the ami
mails themselves? Individually. But really fam
cy mere IS no necessity for going out ones way to
see monkeys at least, i'll the greatest abundance
The streets arc filled to overlooking, with both
male ana female apes, ambulating necessarily and
chattering at rate, that would silence and dumb
iouhd an unsophsticated inhabitant of the forest
Out would you sec them in the greatest plenty
ana view their antics, at the greatest ADVANTAGE
take stroll on the Capital Square, some mild
pleasant evening, and you will be amply pratified
There do the spruce beaux and the butterfly bellies
mostly congregatc. But oh. shade of the
| inlmitabc Brumnel! how wouldst thou he
shocked and Mortified in contemplating the animals
who have rendered the once honoured and honour
able appellatlon of beau, epthet of contempt?
Not but that the external man is well cnouoh hah;l
imented, but the internal adornment of the cronun,
-"oh what falling off is there" Instead of the
graceful dcmeanor, scholastic wit and entertaining
polite discourse of the beaux of thy day we hear
nothing but scnscless, yapid, foolish attempfs ot
wltticIsms, or dull trlte sayings and vulgarisms
unworthy to issue from the mouth of clod
Drained plough-boy.
But how shall speak of the ladies'? Yc gods
above and gods below, aid to remember the
Thousand folhes and fashions they adopt and cast
aside frequently and necessarily as tho waves of
inc ocean roll and burst on the shores of New Jer
Scy. but short while ago, stately flowing
dress winch well nigh swept tho ground, was the
beautiful and appropriate costume of a lady,
Graceful and gliding the motion of a ionr
robcd sylph, and but rarely were our eyes toasted
with the sight of part of a beautiful little foot
Pecrlng from beneath the dress, for an instant
and immediately disappearing, like the sun behind
cloud, or rat into his hole. Such was tie style of
dress In days gone by, when first nv observation
was attracted by such things, and then it was the
fashion to wear bonncts of moderate size that
a person with tolcrably capacious umbrella mot
such dinnnuIvc trlflcs as carried by the ecmi-
nate youth OF these degenerate days) would stand
slight chance OF protecting it from the rain.
Now tho the fashion
Has, it seems, undergone a compile transmutation
Anu they wear such short frocks, out of gcn'rous
compassion,
AS to show the whole ankle, for our admiration
though / admired the long robe exceedingly
yet candour obges me to confess, that having once
seen lady dressed in the brief garment + was ot
once struck with the superiority and elevation of
the "last best work." and forthwith became an ar
dent admrer of the new fashion IT'S so pictur
csque! What be more dcrhtril prosncct
than to investigate the small, delicate end sym
mctrical foot and ankle of beautiful nv1pb
without the intervention of the slightest COVERING
the lcsh-c olored silk hose, which fits so closely
and looks naturally, that we are almost pcr
suadcd that the fair creature is untramncllcd even
by that. Dry goods merchants, perhaps NAV OBJ
jcct to the fasOn, thinking that it would ADVANTAGE
them more to keep the long robe in vogue but thew
evidently have not cogitatcd sufficiently about the
matter, or else they would have discovered that
what is lost in length, is more than five times
compensated in breadth. Truly, the breadth and
circumference of a fine lady is amazing WHY
the fair and delicate creatures should appear so
much stoutcr than formerly, God only knows, for
do not; though folks do say that the secret was
accidcntly disclosed a bright Sunday morning.
i'll last autumn, which occasioncd a. much excite
CAMS disclosure of the secrets of Masonry did
among the members of that venerable fraternity
or the entrance of black ant would, into socic-
~ Of red ants.
But, Mcssrs. Editors, tho style Of dress is not
all that is remarkable. There is one thing have
observed, which, patriot and true lover of my
country, ! cannot too deeply and heartily dcplorc,
as being certainly and directly calculated TO over.
turn and destroy our republican and glorious in
stitutions and keep up a class Of exclusive and
privileged persons among us. The ladies arc very
vehcmently addicted 70, as think, the very objcc-
tionable, unreasonable, useless, and worse than
useless, custom Of salutiug each other, whenever
they meet, be it never often, or whenever they