The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-03-22
From The Montgomery Gaia } Advertiser.
FASHION AND WOMEN.

| FAsHION AND WOMEN.
No saying was ever more true than that a man is
an initiative being In all ages, in all countries, and
under all circumstances, man has proved its truth .
Tor, whether for the accomplishment of good OBJ
Ject or a bad purpose-wheiher occasions Of i'm
melse general consequences or of the most trfng
import whetherto rob an orchard or invade king
dom-let but one venture 10 advance, and he never
fails TO have followers Imitation is faculty with
which the human mind has been gifted, as a means
OF contributing TO us happiness but, like all other
gifts bestowed upon US for advantage il is abused
II was given as an impulse to virtue but we exhaust
il in the practice of vice; il was given for noble
purposes and we frer it away in idle, useless, and
Improbable concerns, in every way unbecoming ra-
uonal beings. Our manners, our language our
very thoughts the result of imitation; nothing
natural or original remains about us; and some
among us BY the ceaseless perseverance, with which
they practice the art, TO the exclusion every thing
else, may be Justly entitled TO be clasSed among the
| Ape tribe rather than among intellectual beings
! having scarcely single lea left which they can
honestly call their own.
Bnt there is no system that gives stronger proof
OF The foregoing remarks, than what Is commonly
called fashion, "a system the most al blrary the
most absurd, and the least calculated to attain good
| end, OF any that mans capricious fancy has ever
| given birth TO. What can be more arbitrary than
/ system which can make the man who refuses ODE
dence TO its dictates, ridiculous, however noble in
disposition, however well versed in literary acquire
ments, or however intellectual his cast Of mind
What can be more absurd, than that man. gifted
|
| should exhaust 1t in sraining 10 rival the bow of
dancing master, the small-tak Of parrot, or the
grimace Of money ?--or that soul capable of
admirng Natures works, should find pleasure in
the handword of tailor or a millaerf Or what
can tend less to good end, than a system by which
| time, talents and money are wasted in the pursuit
of requirements from which no temporal or spirit
ual benefits can ever be derived, and in aiming al
accomplishments in which the least intellectual are
as capable of arriving al perfection as those more
1 highly gifted, perhaps more so, because those who
possess least originality generally excel in imi-
taon +? Should man possess every qualification
necessary TO make good citizen and useful mem
Der of society, bur be deficient in the observance of
the rules of fashion, he is objectionable but should
he be deficient in all those requirements which en-
bellish the mind and improve the heart-shoud he
be totally devoid of every thing like religious prin-
| cple--should he be defective even in moraliiy-yet
provided he has been faithful subject of the empire
of fashion, he is sill pardonabe for fashion, with
the world like charity covers multitude of sins.
| The laws OF fashion exert a powerful influence
over the happiness Of social and domestic life The
manners of husband towards his wife, and vice
versa under their CONTROL and the privileges that
they deny 10 husband in public company. are IN
hesitatingly conferred upon stranger. The inju-
rious tendency which this last custom has, to blunt
the finer feelings of deicacy which we all take for
granted TO be found in the female breast and TO
destroy that nice Of PROPHECY which
Tor moment should escape the memory OF a matron,
is 50 manesy evident, that il is scarcely necessary
TO make even passing remark. Thank God that
reign lands, as though may adopt their ollies 10
adopt their vices also May the corroding breath of
fashion never tainl the purity of our women --may
they never forget, that flowers however bright and
fair, wither when too much exposed to a giaring
sun and that happiness only be found within the
domestic circle! If1hey seek for it elsewhere, they
will seek in vain. ..... .."... .
Look in what is called q fashionable society,"" for
retiring modesy, and you will often find easy impu-
dence Look for the low, sweet voice and the timid
expression Of sentiments suiting the character the
sex, and you will too frequently find the loud sharp
tone, the decided opinion, that admits of nothing
short of unqualified assent Look for purity and
deli ,acy Of thought and you will find beings, whose
beauty like that of Angels, raises thoughts to
Heaven only to bring US back again 10 earth by the
utterance OF sentiments almost bordering on the very
verge OF coarseneSs. Alas that the intellectual i'm
provemen of the human race, instead Of preserving
and adding TO the purity of our lives should have
assisted in throwing the robe OF fascination over
mannerism that, unaccompanied by the charms OF
its glass would nave been looked upon as deserving
the strongest reproof Alas for the simplicity of
former days for who would hesitate 10 prefer its
instructive purity and real delicacy, 10 the refinement
of manners without refinement OF mind-the sqeam-
shneSS Of false deEcacy, assumed TO conceal the abb
sence Of the real-the aieca,ion of every virtue,
without the possession Of any-which characterizes
the present day.
The character ofthe male sex depends very much
upon the moral elevation depression OF the airer
portion of the human family. The nearer the latter
approach perfection, the more viriuous the former
are certain to become Wherever virtue Innocence
and purity characterize the latter, The former are
distinguished for the most exalted bravery the pur
est patriotism, and the most unainted integrity.
When the latter vain, forward and affected, The
former sure to pay more attention TO improve ex
terror appearance than 10 cultivate the understand
ing degenerate from men into tops better calcu-
lated TO act of ceremonies in bathrooms,
than 10 benefit mankind by their abilities, or to con-
tribute to the happiness Of domestic life by their viz
tues. 4
If the power which women possess, and the infu-
ence which they exercise over men, be great, how
deeply are they answerabc to the world Tor the i'm
perfect use which they make OF The means in their
hands for the Improvement of mani How little
have they vet done to accomplish the great end the
perfection Of the species Why array the artillery
Of their charms on the side of folly in IFS contest
with reason2 Why lay aside that dignity which is
based upon the refinement Of intellect and the puri-
w. of virtuous innocence, and adop, that spurious
kind which consists only in strict adherence to
forms which have no meaning, to shadows that have
no substance which fashion dgnifes with the appel
lation Of etiquette y why abandon principles,
for system which has no fixed principles Why
not rather employ that time, which is too often vast
ed in vanity and frivoy, in the exercise and i'm
provemcnt Of the mind There is an elemental
principle OF divinity with us ALL always Straining at
| perfection why not then, instead OF debasng ihat
principle endeavor to assist il in reaching that goal
| which it was destined 10 attain Why not dlsconn.
tcnance well-dreSSed vice and embroidered iopreTyi
Why not respect and encourage honest Virine: una,
dorned by the spendor OF wealth ana the gi'uis "
fashion Why not assist and stimulate merit IN It's
struggles for success against the weight OF poverty
which drags tito the ground
| Acting thus, women would indeed oe me eooa e,
| nil Of the human race. improved ana eieValed
| themselves they would soon induce man to follow
them along the same road for, whether for good or
evil, whether in the pursuit Of Reason orfolly, who
is il that can refuse to follow them Both benefited
and improved they would contribute to each o'her
mutual happiness for their interests are based upon
| the same foundation, and their happiness must
4 W. ipll