Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-06-20
From Mrs. Enis's Daughters OF Ensland)
FASHION.
It's Tmperiouspess and its Erils.

One Of the greatest drawbacks to the good influence Of
society, is the almost unrivalled power OF fashion upon the
female mind. Wherever civilized society exists, fashion
exercises her all-pervading influence. All sioop to it, more
or less, and appear 10 esteem 1t Il merit TO do 50; while a
really fashionable woman, though both rcprobated and r!di.
culed, has an influence in society which is little less than
absolute. Yet, If we would choose out Of the most worth.
less, the most contemplate, and the least efficient of moral
agents, 1t wOuld be the slave OF fashion.
Say the best we can of fashion, it is only an imaginary or
conventional rule, by which a certain degree OF order and
uniformity Is maintained; while the successive and fire.
quent variations IN this rule, are considered to be the means
of keeping in constant exercise our arts and manufactures.
| am not political economist enough to know whether the
same happy results might not be brought about BY purermo.
tinues, AND nobler means; but il has always appeared to me
one OF the greatest OF existing absurdiies, that a whole
community OF people, differing in complexion, form, and
feature, as widely as the same species can differ, should not
only desire to wear precisely the same kind of dress, but
should often labor, strive, and struggle, deceive, envy, and
cheat, and spend their own substance, aud often more than
they can lawfully call their own-io do what7 To obtain
a dress, which s. TO them most unbecomIng, or an article
Of furniture wholly unsuited 10 themselves and their estab.
hshmenL
My own idea, and l believe it is founded upon a long.
chenshed, and perhaps too ardent admiration OF personal
beauty, Is, that fashion ought TO favor all which is most be.
coming. Its true, We should al first be greatly at a loss 10
know what was becoming, because we should have the DOW.
er and the prejudice Of fashion To contend with; but there
can be no doubt that individual, as well as public taste.
would DO improved BY such exercise, and that our manu-.
features would in the end be equally ~benefrtrd. though for
some Time IL might be difficult to calculate upon the proba.
bic demand. Nor can l think that female vanity would be
more encouraged than II now i, by thus consulting personal
and relative fitness; because the young woman who now
goes into company iashiOnably dishgured, believes herself
10 be quite as beautiful as If she was really so. Neither can
| see that we are not bound TO study how To make the best
OF our appearance, for the sake Of our friends, as well as
how 10 make the best Of our manners. DIR furniturc and
our food.
Fashion, however, never takes this into account.
According 10 her arbitrary law, the woman of sallow
complexion must wear the same color as the Hebe; the con.
tracted OF ~misshapen forehead must be laid M bare : that
which displays the fairest page OF beauty; the form with
square and awkward shoulders must wear the came costume
as that which boasts the contour Of the Graces; and OH most
piuful Of all, old age must be "pranked up" in the light dra.
perry, the flowers, and the gauds Vt youth! In addition TO
all tins each one as an indispensable requisite, must pos
sess q waist considerably below the dimenions which are
consistent either with symmetry or health.
1t will be an suspicious Grain the experience of the daugh.
ies oil England, when they shall be convinced that the Gre.
Clans had a higher standard Of taste in female beauty, than
ihato the shOpksepeTs and dressmakers Of London. They
will then be willing to believe, that to be within tine exact
RUE OF proportion, - as important q deviation from perfect
beauty as TO be beyond IT. and that nothing which DESTROYS
the grace Of easy and natural movement, which derives a.
ny bodily function OF its necessary exercise, which robs
the youthful cheek OF its bloom, OF, in short, which migrate.
fully throws back from our possession the invaluable bless
ing OF health, can be consistent with the good taste or right
feeling Of an amiable, intelligent, or rational woman.
These Remarks are applicable, IN their fullest force, To
every deviation which Is sanctioned by fashion. from the
strict and holy law Of modesty and decorum. And Of this
most injurious tendency Of fashion, how insidious il every
encroachment' yet how certain its effect upon the female
mind IL Is no uncommon thing ~ hear women xpress
the utmost adherence Of the costume of some old portrait
~ho' 10 the course OF a few years. perhaps months, are in.
uuceo Ds Iashlun 10 adopt, with unblushiuu satisfaction nm
equally, or more objectionable dress.
The young girl cannot 10 scupulously shroud her modest
feelings from the u%nsparng test OF fashion. The bloom of
modesy u soon rubbed of by vulgar contact; but WHAT
thus lost TO the young female can never be restored. And
let her look to the risk she inoufs. Whatisit7 On the
one hand. To be thought a little less fasn,onsble Than her
trends and neighbors-on the other, to be thought a liue
more exposed Than a delicate woman ought 10 be. Is there
any comparison between the twol Or is there one Of the
daughters Of England, who would not rather be known to
choose the foTmer7
Ifposseaaed Of Int ge,ui,c C,,t,. 49,. IL. -.
points, a young woman viii know by a kind Of instinct that
a bare shoulder protruding into sight ~ neither a delicate
nor a lovely object; that a dress. either so made, or 90
pot on, as not 10 look secure and neat, b., 10 say the
ienst OF IT. IN bad taste. ard that the highest standard at
whlcha rightly minded woman can Gin with regard to
qfess' - mat II should be becoming, end not Conspicuous.
In order to secure this last point Of excellence. iti il unques.
uonobly necessary 10 conform IN some measure to the fash
ION OF the times in which we live, aud the circle Of society
~ "mcn we move; yet, surely this may be done to an cx.
tent sufficient 70 avoid the charge Of singglanty, without
tie sacrifice either Of modesty or good taste.
Whatever may be the beneficial influence of fashion no.
on the Interests ofthe country az large, is effects upon ind.
"uunl happiness aro injurious in proportion TO their extent
and 10 what region u the world, or among what grade al
humanity, has not this idol Of the Rilded shrine, this divinity
OF lace und ribbons, welded the sceptre ola sovereign. and
asserted nef dominion over mankind All bow before her.
though many OF her subjects disclnim her title. and profess
to despiso her authority. Nori j. her territory less extensive.
because her empire is one of tu1ps. From tho ,rc,i,, IL
the monarch ~ the sandal Of the clown: from the bisbop,.
lawn 10 the iuncnnrs ouvaG from the hero's mantle. 10 Inc
mechanics apron; IL j. fashion alone which regulates the
form, The quality ond The cost.
Fashion is unustly spoken Of as presiding only in the fea.
tive dance, the hghicdha the crowded court. Would tbst
her influence were confined 20 these alone! but. Las, We
md her m the most sodnfo assemblies, cooling down each
not 81 coionng that else might glow too warmly. smoothing
OIL excresoences, and rounding singles 20 one general mil
iormiy Of shape and tone. Her task. however. s but n
snort one here, and shc passes on through al the busy bauuts
OF hie, negecung neither high nor low, nor rich nor moor
nnul she enters the very sanctuary. and bows before de al
iar, not only walking with the multitude who keep ioly dav.
bui bending IN subtle sorrow over the last and dosres, fdend
committed 70 the tomb. Yes, there b. something moDsfrous
10 me thought' thotw we cannot weep Tor the dead. but fash.
Jon must disguise our grief and That We cannot stand before
me aiiaf' and pronounce that solemn vow, which the deem
near o. woman alone oan fully comprehend, but fashion
mnst be especially consulted there.
From hs ~. o. Pieqvuns.
PoLrtcbb The Gimp Of the Florence fAt,, F,ort,..
Office recommend 10 the Calhoun papers the followine
wisely written ticket -
FOR PRESIDENT.
J. G. C-JOhn can't came IL.