The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-07-26
OCEANIC HoUsR.

NEWPORT, (h.l.) July 20, lSD
The Advantage of Dress to Bsawty-1hs Sc,smce of
Mantua-,nakrng Notions of the Vulgar
threof-FathT Mathew in Bsston-Visw from,
the fremont House-Fresh Arrivals at this Hotel.
Yesterday was quito a gala occasion here;
music singing, promenading, and drawing room
conversation, were the sources of recreation. As
the season advances. the visiters flock in, and
when all are assembled at dinner, gay and festive
scene unfolds itself to the eye. 1t Is line of
beauty and fashion from one end of the hall to the
other, disposed of in uniform and proportionable
manner, and this creates diversity which adds
considerably to the effect The ladies' dresses,
some Of which may be designated neat-not in the
ordinary acceptatlon of the term-others, rich and
elegant; and others, perfect illustration OF the
fashion, are prominent feature, and while they
enhance the appearance of the fair ones by whom
they are worn with so much grace, the general
effect produced is the theme of unqualified
admiration on the part of those who have suf-
fcient taste to be attracted by them. Dress
does much for the lady; the Anticipated say.
the most" is extremely poetical, and fancl-
full also and, like many other things, 1t Is
very good in theory; but not so good in practice
To see lady with a handsome face atured IN
calico gewn, muslin cap, encountered and de-
formed with borders rising over each other, in
black stockings and thick shoes, would not be
very advantageous TO her beauty; nay, such habi-
llmeDts would completely ruin il; and yet they
would be according to the spirit OF the remark
quoted above, which is so often used to round a
period, to varnish the vicious philosophy of
times The result, in this Instance, shows the utter
absurdty OF those pet doctrines when they are
reduced to practice. Dlantua making has taken
its place among the lower sciences, and 1t is ac-
ually the duty of the ladies' to avail themselves of
II. An Indifferent article, when properly made,
looks well; while the most costly silk or satin that
IRON nah IadIn
loom, if made by botch, SO as TO lap over like
dressing gown, or to hang upon the limbs like a
bathing dress, would be infenorto a ninepennycalico
made according to art. Yet this would be another
illustration of the stock-sayng, "beauy, when una
doned, Is adorned the most" | do not subscribe
to any such fine drawn conclusions. 1t reminds
me Of the person who, sneermg at the idea OF cut
ting the hair according to rule put a wooden bowl
upon his sons head, and then applied the scissors
and by the time he had concluded his labors, the
hair upon which he had operated, in defiance of
rule and method, looked, no doubt, an unadorned
beauty. If the wild and visionary schemes of a
certain class-but for the honor of human nature
| am glad it is a circumscrlbed one-were untor-
tupatey to succeed, this is the style in which
hair would be cut; and what then said respecting
the construction of the ladies' dresses, would be
most particularly and scrupously earned out. But
as long the virtue, and modesty, and sound sense
Of the American people continue to WELD the
sceptre, civilization and refinement will progress,
and every Improvement relating 10 the dresses,
both of ladies' and gentlemen, and 10 the rational
decorations of their persons, will be adopted with
out injury TO morals, or offence to any one. The
vulgar and the depraved want no elegance of dress
or manner. They attack all Just and proper dis
tinctiops-they want none; they know of none
everything must be according TO their views, and
governed by their decisions; and he who writes or
speaks the contrary, 10 made the object of gross
and virulent abuse.
Being so near to the good city Of Boston, |
availed myself of the courtesy of the captain OF
the steamboat Perry, to pay IT a flying visit, and
l arrived Just In time to witness the reception OF
Father Mathew. / had a first rate view of the
procession, from the fremont house. The win
dows of the fremont, which, by the way, is one
of the finest hotels in the country, were crowded
with fashionaby dressed ladies, who appeared to
take great interest in what was going forward
and in all the windows in the houses, along the
line Of the procession, were to be some OF
Boston's fairest and loveliest daughters, who
smiled benignantly, as the good and humble man
passed.
The arrivals at this hotel are rapid and nume-
rous, and the house looks like old times The
pIomenading and counter promenadlng of the
boarders, the quick and busting motion of the
legion Of walters, the music, the concerts, the
dancing and singing, the light hearts and the
cheerful CONFERENCE.-THE Indicate the season of
the year, and the advent of prosperity to the wor-
thy proprietor