The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-08-24
FEMALE DRESS.


intended to convey after the French manner that
skiltul attention TO the setting OF what Is BEST ana
the suppression Of what Is worst In any ladys
ance, win at least take away from her The reproafh
of ugness We do not consider Ibis beneath the at
tention of the WISE We are we'll convinced thai 70
direct our fair friends in general TO pay more alien
ton 10 dress would be very superfaons piece oil
advice. We have reason TO believe that, SO Tar as
exeriion and deyoedness go, they are quite unim-
peacbable on this head.
Il Is. however, one thing 10 be industrousy alien
tive TO any matter, and quite another TO direct in
dnsry BIZ the rules OF science 10 govern attention by
The Suggestions of taste. We have desire TO en-
Join our fair friends TO pay more attention 10 dress
but we may venture TO think il within the limits af
credbiliiy that they might make thar attention more
valuable. As to the suggestion for the
avoidance Of ngliness, that Is point in which, upon
their own account We know they can have no con-
cern, for let them apply or misapply art as they will
nature will not permit them 10 look ugly. But then
no body but such as are quite shocking agree with
the poet that beauty is when unadorned adorned the
most, even beauty may have some interest in consi
derng dress as important article OF the fine arts
And again, even the beautiful may have friends who
are not So and to whom little judicious advice now
and then would be ofno inconsiderabe service. In
short, whichever way we look al the case-eiher as
they themselves are concerned or as their friends
may be, through their assstance--we would suggest
that the artistcal attention refer 10 is founded in
benevolence. Whether il be directed to the proper
framing and ajsstement Of their own beauty, which
is so delightful 10 behold, TO the mitigation and
yelling Of certain defects n their friends which are
not delightful to behold the end is the sa me- namely
the increase OF the sum of the happiness OF society
II any doubts that this virtue let the heretical per-
son read the philosophical works of Jeremy Ben
than, In nine volumes large octave.
Now for litle practical application Of the philo-
sophy upon which we have had the rashness 10 touch
We would In the first pace-because we know our
to dispute the absolute rule Of fashion. The sape
thng-the same mode Of putting i on-will not suit
every body Yet II $40 be feared that for the most
there IS rage for having the thing which is the
fashion, without taking into account whether II be
really suitable or not. But deviating from the fash
ion or rebellion against il, must be managed with
discretion. II Is pleasant to be singular, but skill
will show how much oil the fashion may be adopted
as to show il a certain amount of delerentia no
mage, without going so far 10 deract from these
gifts Of nature which II should be the object of dress
10 Improve.
For example i, may be laid down as positive facl
-at least suppose il may--ihat II is not allotted
ae 5s S s. granaeS
aud certain simplicity of expression, to which tits
well suited but there several varieties OF beauty
which we humby opine ii has tendency to spoil
Nay, we have doubts whether all the studious and
meditaive are quite tight in adopting This severity of
head dress TO lis full extent. We think We remem-
Der some such lines these which we always thought
made rather pretty pictuTe:-
As DER that lake. In evenings glow,
The temple threw It's engih'ning shade,
Upon the marble steps below
There sat a fair Corinthian maid,
Gracefully DER some VOLUME bending;
While Ivy her side youthful sage
Held back her ringlets, lest descending
They should o'ershadow all the page"
Now, though a mere ntiarian might deduce from
this, that curls are tito be in the way, yet
not Of those who pretend that the essential idea of
beauty Is derived from sense Of utility, we deny
the force Of such pleading, and contend that the Co
rnthian maid In question should not have been SO
happily dressed II she had not had descending curls
or curs liable to descend. We sure at all events
that the youthful sage" was of that opinion and We
very deerentialy suggest that he likely 10 know
best.
Well, then, we would have persons to consider
how much OF the ajastemeH la Grisi become them.
IL altogether-very well-so let il be- But, ii not,
why do not allow the mere novelty Of the mode or
what is called the fashion of it, 10 induce you TO dis
card the finest ringles in the world or to bring Too
much out, features which nature formed with a far
more lovely expression than that Of boldness.
BY the way, whatever the Frenchman may say OF
the impossibity Of his country m0men looking ugly
when they are dressed, there is undoubtedly FASH
ION now oil dishguring French children, which is
called dressing them, and which makes them look
fifty times uglier than nature has made them. though
the exertions OF nature in thai respect have been
tolerably considerable. The poor liule creatures
look as Il all their hair had been grasped up BY some
horrible straining engine, and dragged as nearly as
possible off their head, in order TO be screwed down
in knot at the back. II is as bad as shaved head
with the addition of suggesting by sympathy sense
OF pain from the violent dragging Of the hair which
is made perceptibe. 1t Is plain That there is some
thing not exactly as it should be in the Government
of the French, or this hideousness would ere now
have been suppressed by statute or by ordinance.
Now as to the very very long gowns, which sweep
not only balirooms but promenades, in these times,
II must be confessed that such have unproducible
ankles show good taste In adopting them, and
audable perseverance in encouraging their adoption
by others
We propose that any lady having certificate from
her doctor that The exposure of the smallest portion
OF insep or ankle would not be for The good Of her
health, should have license to bury them in the OBJ
lvion OF several yards of velvet satin or muslin as
me case may be the license however, not TO extend
SO lar as to give them action Of damages against
resspassers upon their garments If not approaching
ers thereof
hs not by any means our wish to see the lberalitv
VI some years ago initiated now and we think ali
persons should SO accommodate Themselves Ia he
iasnoh as 10 wear gowns which come down al least
wnnin s,gnt OF The ground but assuredly the length
70 waica tnese garments are now carried cannot be
SAID 70 De necessary To than few nor are thew
becoming TO ALL 80 "o' ais'ney
As touching the highly important aud interes,;na
article OF bon0ets Il Is not to be Questioned 20
some charming lillle heads with faces radiant and
brilliant as an opening rose a bright June morn
ing, the bonnet Of the present day is extremely he.
coming; but II is equally certain that some connie.
nanees are more bewi ching when shaded in The de-
gnuul mystery 81 deep Bonnet, destructive though
hoe to the prospects Of collateral nquisiliveneSs.
In bref-for we're we 10 tDuch upon all points
which start up before u.s. and not inapproprately
eiher, TO the present theme, we might talk on Tor
nours-,'n brief, We would have our fair friends to
PIoceee IN respect OF Dress according to the analo-
gy Oh Mr. Popes advice about building and garden
making '"1 eaiasA
Consult the genius Of the place IN anp
Let those who dress consult the genius OF the face In
ALL and not only this but the figure and Inc a,,rai
air and disposition 80 90
And this puts us In mind of class OF nersonns.
whose attention TO dress is anything but skilful,--