The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-11-18


politeness while residing at a foreign court,
where the reigning prince had the misiof-
tune to be somewhat stiff in the ankle
Joints. There was nothing very remarka-
BILE in this trait OF complaisance. for the
spirit OF imitation in dress. language, and
customs Of all kinds is Of so universally
pervadng an influence, that right or wrong,
its dictates are unhesitatingly followed. One
Therefore, should not laugh too hard at
the old laird's affected lameness. We are
all less or more followers, from imitation
and habit, Of usages. which common sense
has some difficulty in justlying.
OF all the despois, Fashion is the most
despotic; and yet the thing is entirely vol,
untary. There is, however, the terror oil
appearing to act differently from what seems
to be legitimately erected standard. No
inquiry is employed as to the correctness OF
the taste which has suggested any distinct
change in fashion. No matter even that
accident has been the cause OF the altera-
ton: for, as in state Of panic, what all
hasten TO do cannot possibly be wrong. In
the modern lady-world, this panic OF fash
ion is observed to work as marvellous trans
formations as that which took place among
the towering head dresses of Addison's
days, and to have about as reasonable
purpose. When the Queen was on the
Clyde last year, finding her face visited too
roughly by the air of our Scottish hills, she
tied her veil under her chin. The action
was natural, and the effect no doubt, in the
circumstances, becoming. The royal cheeks,
warm with health. flushed with womanly
and queenly feeling, and famed by the well
coming breezes Of the north, looked almost
as beautiful, we dare say, as the moss-rose.
However that may be, before the day was
out, there were hundreds Of other cheeks in
the same predicament. The rage Of imita-
ton spread. In the shadiest walks, in the
closest streets of the town, in the calmest
and hottest days Of the season, the veil was
fashionably tied under the chin. The fash
ion. however, was in reality made fashion
only through Misrepresentation; for the
Queen had merely adopted temporary ex-
pedient to serve temporary end; and when
the emergency was over, she no doubt un-
loosed the knot, and gave her veil to the
winds as usual. Her imitators were as I'M
regardful OF circumstances as the very saga
cious monkey which gul ped a package
Of medicine because he saw his master
swallow quantity Of the same material
previously.
To silly and panic-like rage Of imita-
ton may no doubt most fashions be traced;
the fear of infringing even a trifing point
in prevailing usage being perhaps strong
er than that which makes men avoid the
commission of serious error. And thus
highly artificial states Of society, in which
etiquette exercises the chief control, cannot
be said to be favorable to the growth OF
moral excellence. We would not, howev-
er, have it thought that there is anything
either blameable or ridiculous-far fromit-
in following fashions which are convenient,
becoming, and suitable to general circum-
stances. Every successive generation in
PRODUCES some species Of novelty, which is
an expression Of social progress; and in
costumes or customs we may read the NOR
al history Of country as distinctly as in
its medals and monuments. Fortunately,
the tendency Of fashion in our own day is
towards simplicity; though in this respect
we are only following the progress which
commenced a generation ago. The imita-
ton which challenges sarcasm is that Of the
monkey and the medicine--a fantastic copy.
ing Of which is valueless and unsuitable.
In this respect it is ameanness, and betrays
as much. the want Of true dignity as of COM
mon reflection. Ii is the enemy of fashion
perpetually turning it into ridicule, and for.
cling it into a thousand feverish changes
to escape from its prosecutions. These
changes are sometimes as comical as were
those Of the two fairies in the ARABIAN
Nights, who fought through a series Of
netamorphoses. We remember the leaders
of ton, some wears ago, had recourse to the
exPedent Of Disgusting their voices by a
certain dexterous use Of the roof of the
mouth. Even this. however, did not battle
their pursuers; in a very short time the
world OF slavish imitators acquired the new
form of speech, and drove invention to new
shifts. AT later epoch some ingenious
persons stuck an eye-glass into their eye,
supporting it by the muscles alone, and
bearing with heroical equanimity the incon-
venience and the ridicule but this has now
come down TO the order of small imitators
who affect TO bask in the sunshine of fash.
ion.
As regards the mass Of mankind, imita-
ton is kind Of substitute for principle; and
estimated not in its extreme aspect, until in.
dividuals are better able to direct their own
movements, it deserves indulgence, if rot
appreciation. So many persons are placed
in circumstances adverse to original or in.
dependent thought, that we cannot speak
too hatteringly Of efforts at imitation, which
though sometimes grotesque, and possibly
out of place, are in the main respectable.
and significant OF a wish for improvement.
On a late occasion, when shown into the
cottage of rural laborer, we observed with
surprise that small table was laid out with
books ar-fashion, as in the drawing-roo
of a city. The effort at gentility was in one
sense ludicrous; yet how deserving was il
Of commentator, all things considered
The true way to view such things is to place
them in contrast with that utter disregard of
oil the decencies Of life which is unhapp.
ly manifested by parties moving in rank
equal to that Of the rural laborer Only
day or two previously we had visited the
house of person Of greater worldly pos
sessions, and found the family living almost