The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-10-12
From the last London Quarterly Review.
ART OE DRESS.

2. Costume in England. BY F. W. Fairholt f. s.
A. With above six hundred Engrayings, drawn
on INV wood BY the Author London an, ' ~ Eosno,
BY Lady of Rank. With Numerous Engravings.
London 1916.
II suited us for centuries TO circulate well-tumed
of fallacies respecting womans incapacity for
keeping u secret--the motive being merely thereby
10 secure an innocent scapegoa, on whom to lay the
shame of our own indscretions. Now we are too
happy when one Of the sex will condescend TO become
the confdante of any secrets we may possess, and
feel them honored by her acceptance, whether she
keeps them or no. For centuries we agreed that
education was dangerous thing for her-only be-
cause we felt how much better use she would make
of it than ourselves: and Milton taught his daugh-
tiers 10 pronounce Greek and Lain, so that they
might read the classics aloud for his pleasure, but
forbdde their understanding the meaning Of word
for their own-for which he deserved 10 be blind
Now not only make them welcome to help them
selves 10 any of the fruits Of science or flowers OF
literature, as pcntifuly they please, but too
happy, all editors and publishers will testify, when
we can prevail upon them to help well.
There is one fallacy however, still current against
woman, which we must take this public opportuni-
~ of renouncing. certain ungallant old Father,
soued by The circumstances Of his LOT, relieved
OF his spleen by defining woman phiiokoSmon
--Angtice-an animal that delights in inery: and
this saying, naturally soothing 10 disappointed lay
men as well us those of the Fathers own order con-
tinued an authority even TO the time Of the amiable
Spectator, who was not ashamed to quote 1t. We
had, nevertheless, long ago serious doubts the
nerablc dietnm: and are therefore, the Obliged
10 the books now enumerated-especially that which
being written by "a Lady of Rank is not to be
questioned-for the accumulated evidence they have
produced in favor of our hesitation. We think they
have made it pretty clear that in all that appertains
TO fnery in dress, the sex to which the Father him
self belonged has not only always kept pace but fire.
quentiy outstripped the other and that whilst
poets, norallss, and clergy have been sarizing and
denouncing the eStravagances and absurdities of fe
male apparel, we have been Haunting and strutting
away under cover OF our own fire. far extrava-
giant and absurd than they. II results from Mr.
Planches History and the other meritorious works
now before us in own favored country at
least We cannot point to one single caprice
winch has appeared on the beautiful person OF wo
man, that has not had its counterpart as bad OF
worse, upon the ugly body of man. We have had
the same eiemnate slufis-the same fine laces-the
same rich fufs-the same costly jewels. We have
had as much gold and embroidery, and more tinsel
and rumpery. We have worn long hair and large
sleeves, and tight waists and full petticoats. We
nave sported stays and stomachers- earrings
and loye-locks, We have rouged, and patched, and
padded, and laced. When they have INDUCED a little
excess in one part, we have broken out ten times
worse in another. If they have had head-dresses
rap,s horn If ,bey H. i'll - my
whalebonc oboy. "a a,r - ,.. VIZ
If thov b,vo ,o,,, 49, a. N' 49, "
,hroo,s wo have hr,,n,od r., 49, VS." o'e'
,egs r. ho, oar-;aI I;,., ao'u' vu' CLUMSY
f,no wa ho,o oa,,asa,s, 80 'pe"' VII oeii
short ,vborovor ,o Iol 49,, ~ - ouI po.Ae's
whether tbro,,,h ."o nisois u hnnhiha'
If nonor. ~ 49,, " Iou,ueis' inc evidence
rese,rcbco If = ID, - '"e sonue''enuiie
ar -, r. -, ', A.a"n' VIC hio '"o ahiinais
.,h;oh ,ha 60, I'M
i,,sw vs." $3.50. - Wv
In ,his ,,,o, ,o,.,,.o. +, ,,. !, ua :.
nun, ne f,r a., o,,. T., i,,.e ..,-t. ~ .'
,ha,,aIo '. ''''s
bjnotion of the i,co, van;an, ,1 ,ha ,,,,,,.,
which except in the light of a retrlbution il Is pIz
cling 10 account for Hot in surnmer--cold in win
ter-useless for either keeping off rain or sun-stii
but not pIan--bare without being s,pple-no, duro
BILE, NOT becoming and moi cheap Man il like n cor
rupt borough; the only way to stop the evil has beer
TO deprive him of his franchise. He-we mean tn,
man OF civil le-the military IRE not in question
the pein is no longer even allowed The ontion of max
ing himself ridiculous Not single article ia left In
his wardrobe with which he can even make whot |,
coIled nm innross;,n, ,,,o,,as, +, o,, ~ H.
lion Each taken senor,telv il ne ol,s,rd no Tho rr
tiesl fop could have devised, and as ugly as III,
staunchest Puritan could have desired That bat,is
u machine which an impartial stranger mqht minute
variety of useful culinary purposes TO- but would
never dream Of putting on his head His stock look,
like nlanace with which he had escaped from pri.
son. or his crayat like lasso with which he has bec
caught in the act His shirt collars NAV he e,,i,le
10 their name OF rater Dordern Tor fathe
in Germany. but certainly never did any other
cuon there or elsewhere. His con, is a contriv,nce
which covers only half his person, and does No, 4,
that; while his waistcoat if STRAIGHT o,e would b.
an excellent restraint for one who can contenv ao,
being the rcstof the costume Each article in ,ddtion
under such strict laws that whoever at,emdts N alter
or embelish, only gets credit for more vanity than
his fellows, and not for more taste !.
Not that the exercise of taste in sucb matters +, h
any means forbidden, or even restrained hv ne !,
would be dreadful if it were beng ne il il no,yor'
full instinct in our nature. The onIv ,nio,,ro has
been, and nothing surely bu, the mos, syro,,ins