Wilmington expositor. (Wilmington, Del.) 1831-18??, 1832-05-18
wnNrrMaroM pnL FRIDAY, MAY le. 1aaa

guIshed the feminine person, were certainly
not designed to be obscured by negligence in
the arrangement of their dress or by the coarse
ness OF vulgar apparel; and hence, iudicious
regard to neatness Of personal appearance, NAV
be considered as indicative of laudable senti-
Tnents and good taste. But it is not an osten-
Etatious display of costly raiment, nor an exbi-
bitten of the varied combinations of color and
shape, which the impetuous demand of fashion
extort from the exhausted invention of the mill
liner, that can add lustre to female beauty, or
secure the esteem & affection of single mind
thatis worthy of being called rational. The
lproudest achievement that external embellish-
ments are capable Of, is to gain the notice of
the retailers of false compliments and insincere
professions.
But he who looks upon woman as designed
ito be the rational companion of man: who re-
lgsrds her in her intended high capacity, as be-
ing endowed with tenderness, truth, and SYM
patty: whose affection should irradiate the
hour of gloom, or adorn the sunshine of pros
perity, and whose outward beauty should be al
faithful index ofindwelling loneliness, will not
ALLOW the Establishments of fine apparel to atone
for wilful deficiency in the solid qualities of
the understanding aud the heart. He will con-
slider and feel that she is incapable of inspiring
rational and lasting attachment: and regard
her as vain and insipd: like the gaudy flower
that is destitute of fragrance. though adorned
with many colors.
1t does, indeed appear, that to attract atten-
ton, to behold the eye of the passing stranger,
or the lounging fop, dilated with amazement at
the deformity OF a prodigious bonnet, or the
attenuation of compressed waist, is sufficient
to satisfy the omnivorous vanity of some of our
fashionable females, But how remote from
vrtuous ambition are those who compel us toI
form such conclusion! How far do they un-
derrate the value and beauty of that intrinsic
excellence. which shuns and detests display.
which abides in simplicity, and. unconsciousI
OF its charms, secures the respect and affectionI
of the intelligent and good.
How shall we excuse or palliate that irreve-
rent display of the skill of the mlliner. which,
infests every place of worship. What pre-
ponderating strength must vanity have acqui.
red, when it thus carries its pride and ostenta-
ton into that house in which the especial pres
ence of the Almighty is invoked! A church ire
ally appears rather like bazaar for 6nery; than
house of prayer and spiritual improvement
1t is far from my wish to introduce any of that
sanity mawkishness which passes with many
for the purity of revealed religion. approve
and applaud neatness and gentility in dress; but
where vanity so far predon,inates over event
spired by the influence Of the gospel, females
ought to be reminded of what is their duty. and
what their disgrace. BY these church exhibit
tions-I had almost said, these sacrilegious dis
plays, not only is vanity indulged, but hypoc-
risy implanted. The worship of God is the
ostensible reason for visiting the church, while
the real latent intention is that of displaying
their dress and being admired.
Much of the infelicity which exists in the do
nestle circle results from principles which are
primarily instiled by the immoderate love of
dress: nor is this the least surprising, when it
is remembered, that the devotee of fashion, in
her alteration of that which is without, irstne
elects and gradually acquires a contempt for
that which ought to be within. Envy towards
those who exceed her in external adornment,
a fretful anxiety for trifes, which in her esti-
nation are swelled into immense Importance;
a multitude offrivolous desires, whose frequent
disappointment induces petulence or secret
modification, are the inseparable concomitants
of the inordinate love of fashionable attire.
| To the reason, to the susceptive feelings OF
the fair sex, would appeal, and implore them
to dismiss the evil of which Icomplain. Eve
| ny suggestion Of the understanding, every die.
tate of an unsophistcated heart, must lean to
the side of simplicity and unostentatious dress
i Every wilful & excessive deviation from them
| is positive breach of neral duty and integri-
lty: while consistent adherence to neatness,
not only evinces the strength of good princi-
.Iples which cannot be subdued by the preva-
rience of bad custom, but enhances the charms
of that loneliness which is, ''when unadorned,
adorned the most"
! HALEY AND NEWTON.
HALEY the great mathematician, dabbled moi
a little in infdelity; he was rather too fond OF
introducing this subject. Once, when he had
descanted somewhat freely on it, in the pre-
sence of his friend Sir, Isaac Newton: the lat
ter cut him short with this observation: g al
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