The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-10-14


Think also of the moral charm exercised by such a
face and figure over the circle where il beongs-the
hallowng influence of one who, having performed
all her active part in this world takes passive
but nober one than any and shows us hoc 10 grorr
otd:-who having gone through all the progressive pc
RODS ote, and their accompanying rank in the esti
nation of mankind--thcp almy days of youth and adj
mration--the working time of cares and consequence
the honorable maturity of Experience and authority
now casts them all aside, and asserts far higher
claim TO our respect namely the simple fact of her
age who knows that to all who have eyes to see
and hearts to feel her silver locks more precious
than the most golden tresses money could purchase
her pale cheek more interesting than the finest bloom
art could stmulate-her modest coverings more at
tractive than the most wonderfully preserved remains
OF beauty she could exhibit-her whole venerable
pect of age more lovely than the very best imitation
of youth she could possibly get up who not only
makes old age respectable and honorable, but even
enyiabc in the eyes of those who are still toiling in
the heat and burden of the day.
Why is SO sweet picture and edifyng lesson
not oftener seen in our circles ?-why are we tried
with the unbecoming appearance of those who won't
be old and can't be young, and who forfeit the respect
II is so painful to withhold There is something pre-
posterous in the idea Of any rational being
diousy denying what il is her highest interest to
sert rs well might banker not wish for credit or
his inheritance an heir for his inheritance or
poet for fame preacher for belief heir for his
inheritance, or statesman for place, age not wish
for revernce Doubtless ifthere any way of max
ing old people young other in looks anything else
it would be adeightful invention; but meanwhile, jul
vene dressing is the last road we should recommend
them to take She who is ashamed toweur a costume
old us herself may rely upon it she only looks older
than her costume. ts"s
OF course there many who belong to this class
more from necessity than choice, and who simply
do as others do, whatever the fashion may be-also
many, or most we would hope, who are rreproach-
able on the score Of propriety however they may
fall short of standard of the picturesque. But
why should they not unite both 1t is so obvious
that the walls of an old hall should be hung with fine
heavy tapestry instead Of being covered with limsy
paper, or faced with modern scagliola.
The French, we must say are much cunninger
than we in this matter. Indeed they know how to
unite the very highest effect of fashion with reli-
gous observance of the dccorum due to years. When
ever one does see in an English assembly an ancient
lady who makes no attempt to disguise her time of
life, and yet peases splendid picture, ten to
but your neighbor whispers-'How like the Fau-
bo,irgn s. lam .-. . &c..
If all ages are to dance to tune it should be a
minuet and not jig. Ii there is to be but one
dard of garb, we are bound in duty to consider the
grand mother first. The granddaughter will not
look i'll in her close kerchief as she in the girls
low dress. 1t is invdious, too fix any time for
drawing the line between them. No one likes to tell
their years except the impertinently young, or the
wonderfully old, and one need If they do belle
them in other respects. The certain age, too, which
is the true Rubicon requires the courage Of all
avow. The conventual dresses of the old Catholic
times, which assumed equally by those who're
manned in the world as by those who quilted it
admirable assistance in settling this point. to-
tai change is easier than partiu and when lady of
the olden time found her secular garment longer
so becoming to her as it had becn she threw it Off
altogether, and suffered modification in assuming
| a garb which positive blazon of age, though
| the greatest accommodation TO it. ,.' ,.'
Let no one think we exaggerae the importance of
dress As far as we see, there Is nothing that can be
proven to be half SO important. Whether visit old
countries, or discover new read history or study
mankind under this aspect or that, but one and the
same result invariably presents ITSELF viz that hui
man nature, in all times and in all attitudes is found
has been found, and will be found with the same
wants and wishes, passions, and propensities prom-
SEES and appointments-only in different dress
that the author of iSartor Iiesartus would say,
Man is the same clothes-horsc, whether painted in
the high ruff Of Zucchero or in the low collar of Sir
| Joshua. ."'- s... f..
In portrait painter this is especially apparent
Difference Of costume is to him what difference OF
scenery is to the land scape painter 1t is not ALL but
It is 4 great portion Of that which makes Gansbo-
rough not n Holbein, and Cuyp not Claude. 1t is
| as much, and more perhaps, the rigid stuIs which
made Hobein stiff, and the flowing draperes which
made Vandyke graceful, or rice persa The portrait
painter, too, is, after ALL the only real authority for
the true spirit of u costume. Mssals and monuments,
and the Bayeux tapestry, and the Harleian manu-
scripts will furnish curious details for the antiqary
| and such satirist as Hogarth absurd extremes for
the critics but it is the general porlrait-arst that can
alone between the hobby of an individual or the
fashion of season, and give that prevailing effect
| under which the costume CT period should be view
| ed ,... .....'. .-.
Holben is earliest authority for the real every
day aspect of English society In his time that prn.
clp!e of Difference for age was in vogue which we
have been endeavoring to recommend. People started
with the supposition that fifty years and upwards
was the only sensible time Of womans life; and
those who had the misfortune to be younger had tc
make the best of it, being probably assisted by some
suspicion that the greater the disparity between them
selves and their costume the better they looked The
dress of the majority Of Holbens portraits is of al
others best adapted to honorable retreat fol
waning charms Beneath the stern bucker of thu
deep stomacher 1t mattered not what kind of shap,
lay concealed for all reduced to the same level
Beneath the stiff diamond shaped cap--closed care
fully between the edge and the temples with gold It's
| sue--it all one whether the hair was thick O
| thin, black, red, white, for none at all was seen
| The high make of the dress on back and shoulders
covered what m ht be very beautiful in the BRIDE bu
prevented deal of rheumatism in the matron. Th
modest and becoming partlet-a kind of habit-shir