Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1841-11-18


afterwards.
AT This precise instant, there was see
at distance over the wide expanse o
the ocean, on the borders of which III
Goddess had erected her throne, in orde
that she might receive the earliest fash
ION from abroad, little black speck
winch on nearer approach, appeared t.
be a bark canoe. Darling along III,
murmurlng waves, II bounded to the snow
whlte sands, and there stepped forth
claimant from the far-distant region o
Polynesia, the Paradise of all the isles
'he abode of a people, at no distant pc
ROD past the happiest and the most limo
cent OF any in the world. The yount
girl was beautiful, but it was plain tina
these beauties had been marred by at
tempts to adopt the fnerv. and cop,
the alterations ofthe votaries of Fashion
There was an odd, awkward mixture, a
constant struggle between natural grace
and clumsy atfectation; and her dress ex
cited the ridicuIe Of the myriads. that BY
this time, had gathered together from ev.
cry region of the peopled earth. She
had probably received it from some gal.
liant sea-captain, or per adventure mis-.
sIonary's wife, and though it might have
been fashionable some half a dozen wears
ago, the whole assembly, with one voice,
denounced 1t as antedelnyian The NOR,
titled votary was motioned aside by the
Goddess, and retired deeply affected, to
the spot where the Indian maid was ad-
mlrlng herself, and where they soon fell
Intoa quarrel about whose face it was
that looked so beautiful in the glass.
The next applicant that presented her.
self at The foot of the throne, was a
white maiden of the pure Anglo-Saxon
race, the product of a new born Repub-
lcan, where, if woman only knew how
beautiful nature has made them they
would scorn to call in the aid Of FASH
ionable deformties. But unfortunately.
as yet they remain ignorant of their SUI
periorIty over all the rest of the world,
save now and then that some one, more
fortunate than the rest, detects an angel
as she stoops down to drink from some
crystal spring. The damsel came wrig-
CLING along, courtsying, 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 appro-
baton, and desired the fair devotee to
present her claims to the honor of being
her representative.
"Divine GodDess," she replied, "my
claim rests on the implicit obedience |
have paid to thy laws, ever since | came
to years of discretion. From that pc
Rod have made what was fashionable,
the rule ofmy life, in opinions, dress, and
behaviour. 1t has been my religion, my
law and my Conscience. have sat up
ate, at night, when should have been
it was the fashion.
lttended soirees, routs and balls, when
ny health admonished me had better
'tay at home--because it was the fashion
have turned aside from all domestic du-
les and occupations-because it was the
ashton. | have laced myself so tight,
hat may safely boast that could hard
y breathe, and sacrificed both comfort
nd health--because it was the fashion.
have made myself deformed in the eye |
Heaven, by using every effort to mar
ne figure it had bestowed upon me, and
rrest the course of nature-because it
as the fashion. | have made it u rule
hide or expose my person, not as the
ctates OF modesty, or the dignity of my
TX, requlred-but because it was the
lshlon. have not asked myself what
as comfortable to my duties to the do.
estic circle in which my lot was cast,
to those moral obligations enjoned on
y sex, by the great Creator of the
orld-- but have inquired what was the
shon, and acted accordingly. When it /
as the fashion to be pious, was pious;
I'd when the fashion altered, shut my
bic and turned my back on the church.
bove all dear Goddess Of my devotions. i
nave done violence to my fist affections,
I'd starved my heart to feed my vanity |
have discarded youth who possessed 5
ID deserved my love, because he was |
t fashionable, and given myself TO an '
her. because he was the fashion. Last S
, have worn satin slippers TO walk the i
reefs in winter, at the risk ofmy life
cause It was the fashion," Here the f
cath of the young woman failed and c
e fell into long hollow cough, which n
evented her saying any thing more. O
'tlrlng little on one side, she sat n
wn painting for breath, and those about i
r thought she was fainting, until they V
served that her cheeks were the col '
r Of scarlet. h
On her retiring, second young mai s
n came pressing forward with a coun- a
rance, though faded, yet full of deIica- il
, and figure which though Fashion il
q tried all she could to spoil it, was p
II graceful IN its outlines and motions, a
understanding her waist bore testimo- L
OF the rack. Her breath was short, 81
bosom heaved with eager antici- al
ION, and without being questioned by CT