The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-09-25

nesia, the paradise of oil the isles the abode OF
the people, at distant period past the ,naPples1
and most innocent of any in the worid. me
young girl was beautiful but it was pam lhat
these beauties had been marred by attempts 10
adoptthe finery and copy the affectanons OF me
yotaries Of Fashion There was an DID,, awk
ward mixture constant struggle between rue
natural grace and clumsy affection ana pner
dress excited the rdcule OF the lnyriads thGt by
this time had gathered from every region OF the
peopled earth She had probably received II
from some gallant sea captain, or peradventure
missionarys wife, and though it might have been
fashionable some hall a dozen years ago, the
whole assembly, with one voice, pronouncedenl
as antedeluvian. :, The mortified votary was mo-
toned aside by the Goddess and retired deeply
affected 10 The spot where the Indian maid was
admiring herself, and where they soon fell into
"a quarrel about whose face il was that looked so
beautiful in that glass. t3 ~ w 2r'l. n'
The next applicant that presented herself at
the foot OF the throne, was a white maiden OF
| tie pure Anglo Saxon race, the product of a
new born republic, where, if women only knew
how beautiful nature had made them, they would
scorn to call in the aid Of fashionable determines.
But un fortunately, as they yet remain ignorant
of their superiority all the rest of the worlds,
| save now and then that some one, more, tortu-
nate than the rest, detects angel as she stoops
down,to drink fSom some crystal spring. The
| datnsel came wriggmg along, courtesying as by
courtesy it is called, as low as whalebone ribs
would permit, and at once caught the approving
| eye of the Goddess, who nodded appreciation,
and desired the fair devotee 10 present her claims
! to the honor of being her representative. ,..-
"Dvne Goddess" she replied, my claim
rests upon the implicit obedience have paid to
/ thy laws, ever since came to years, OF discre-
ton. From that period have made what was
i fashionable the rule of my life, in opinions,
dress and behaviour it has been my religion, my
law, and my constituencies i have set up late
at night, when should have been asleep--he'
cause it sthe fashion. have attended sor.
ees, routs and balls when my health a,monlshed
, me had better stay ct home-because 1t was
the fashion have turned aside from all do
nestle duties aud OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 1t was
the fashion. have laced myself so tight, that
, may safely boast that / could hardly breathe, and
!, sacrificed both comfort and health-because y
, was the fashion. l have made myself deformed
in the eye of Heaven, by using every effort TO
!, MARI the figure it had bestowed upon me, and
, arrest tho course Of nature-because il was the
! fashion. i have made it rule to hide or ex-
pose my person. not as the dictates OF modesty
6 or the dignity of my sex required but because
il was the fashion. I have not asked myself
what was comfortable to my duties to the do
mestic circle In which my lot was cast, or to
those moral obligations enjoined on my sex, 10y
the great Creator OF the world--but have in
uuired what was the fashion, anu acted accord.
: ingly. When it was the fashion to be plous,
3 2 my bible and turned my back on The Church.
q Above all dear Goddess of my devotons, have
9 done violence to my heart to feed my vanity
= have discarded youth who possessed and de
: served my love, because he was not fashionable
and given myself to another--because he wa
. the fashion. lastly have worn satin Slipper
. TO walk the streets in the winter at the risk o
:, INV own life--becanse it was the fashion. =
:, Here the breath of the young woman fai'ed, am
\ she fell into long hollow cough, when prevent
IL. of n
:, on one side, she sat down painting for breath
!, and those about her thought she was tainting un
- thew observed that her cheeks were the colo
. of scarlet. i2H.f ~ rltF5 71ss.s1
: +. On her retiring, a second young maiden cam
u pressing forward with a countenance, though
~ faded. vet full of dalicary, aud figure Which
% though Fashion had tried all she could TO spo
IT, was still graceful i'm lis outlines and motions
~ notwithstanding her waist bore testimony OF tn
"a rack. Her breath was short. her bosom heave
~ with eager anticipation, and without being ques
70 toned by the Goddess. She addressed her IN
9 sweet voice as follows: So. ,,.t h, ..i.s So,
,, sd am an only child, ana have been from il
" fancy without mother. My remaining parer
"a was long an invalid, and as it could not be ret
ID sonably expected should be forever soothin
his jnfirlnities sought refuge from LONELINESS
ID and ennui, i'm the gaiiy ofthe fnsllIonabe wori'
,s resolved, to devote myself to The Goddess !
lie and leaving my father TO the care OF nurses an
e. doctors, become one Of thy most faithful wo
ne shippers have sacrificed al those nntiquate
ne sources of enjoyment that are said TO spring iro
lie the faithful discharge Of those tender m'nstr
of lions that fall to the lot Of our oppressed sex,
a. every situation Of life, unless they have the sens
a. aud spirit to break their ignominious thraldo
- and enlist among they free votaries. haye,i 10
all all capacity to derive pleasure from domestic o.
e. cupations and enJoyments have survived tt
al power of loving anything but myself live ol
( " on the admiration OF that world which IS no
he forsakng mes my beauty is fading away N
rs, health is gone my mind forever incapaclai.
ed for oll delights except those of gratiiied van
IN which are now beyond my reach, aud nothi!
a. remains but the fruiton of my ambition. n
SIS me, dear Goddess, and reward one who has sa
nv ri6ced ali to thee" The Goddess moved ~
ms aside courteotsy; and she retired weeping, neIl
ne elbowed out Of the way by another conpe ,ite
"a. She was a matron ofsome five and-forty dire
he sed in the extreme OF the mode, with certa
~ a,,,haro,ce behind that proved beyond doul