Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-01-31
For the Indiana STATE Sentinel.
Fashionable Inconsistencies.


Were not admirers of the softer sex. we would
not obtrude ourselves upon their notice with the fol-
lowing remarks, and trust what we have 10 cav viii
be as kindly received IT is honestly sdvanced. IL
any person Is benefited we shall be grstifed.
Every country has Its customs and what appears
odd to us may seem right to others. We might adopt
with ProprIey whatever is consistent, and should
ject that which Is Inconsistent
The Goddess If Fashion is changing and
tickle; why should her wIiims and behests be always
obeyed! There i good reason why approved Gus
toms should be abolished. or why each new fashion
should be embraced.
We remember when American ladies wore their
dresses several inches above their feet, and what is
pretter than neat shod foot Now it is considered
lndelIcaie to any but long dresses, and sight
OF the little foot is out of the question Who has not
noticed our pretiesi ladies' promenading streets
IN muddy weather with the skirts of their fine cos
tunes bordered with some inches of mud, and which
they could be induced to raise little because the
act might exhibit The worked border os clean iHps
how very modest whilst the dear creatures are
willing 10 appear in public assemblies with arms and
neck uncovered, and breast not invisible. This is
well enough, but object to affected narrowmnded
modesy; we wish our ladies' would emulate those Of
Europe in some particulars The of the
better classes of them is quite striking.
''Ihe majority of them wear white cotton stock
lngs, without those dirty pantaeis which you see bob
bng against the ances of our women. and they have
too much good sense under affected modesiy 10 let
their clothes draggle IN the mud but they raise them
little, and you will them elegantly dressed, and
walking through and crossing the muddest streets in
the rain and not speck Of dirt upon their shoes or
stockings"
The plan of encumbering the person with coarse
and heavy inner garments 10 give the outer en- un-
PrupUroned circumference is inconsistent with good
taste, and productive IF bad health.
Fashion has dictated the compression of the infant
feet IN irons TO nation-the enclosure Of the infant
head between two boards to another-and the wither
ing of the vital system by cords corseis third;
because, fcrsOOih, she would fsin beauIfy natures
handiwork She would
"Gd refined gold paint the lily,
Throw perfume the violet
Smooth the ice, or add another hue
Unto the rainbow
Ii is about this waslefu aud ridiculous attempt 10
beautfy BY tight-Iacing, the most beautiful of
Species that we are about 10 speak. This custom has
been introduced among by the enlightened of the
Old world, aud has been duly observed by the better
classes Of this country. Whilst philanhropisS have
been doing "goOi lrorks' little has been said about
this seifdcsiroying practise, in comparison Will vol
umes that have been written and spoken in regard 10
evils of minor Importance To "a few physiological
writers the world is greatly indebted for exposure
Of the baneu effects resulting from zig htGcisg end
they have clearly demonstrated that this custom tends
to TN early destruction Of the physical aud mental
power of woman, aud to the reproduction Of degen-
erae hnd enfeeoled progeny; anc Il IS earnestly hoped
that mothers and daughters for the love they have for
themselves and their posieriiy. tiut they will at once
renounce the of the "corset. "and take position
amongst tie refOrmers of the day. AntiTight-lacing
Societies should be formed throughout the length aud
breadth of our land Soon thereafter might say
of our girls as Henry Coleman Gan American) says
Of the girls of Broeck and Ssardam. IL think some
of them the fairest and bandsomest creatures ever
| looked upon, and made Of unniXed porcelain clay.
/ Before left England, | though; the English women
| the faircst had ever seen. / consider them as
belonging to the coorrd races; these girls much ex-
ceed them. Take tie fairest rosc that was ever
Plucked, with the gil tcring deH-drop among its pc
tals take the farest peach tat ever hung upon the
tree, with its charming ints Of red and white-Hnd
they ecpscd by the transparency and beauty of
complexion Of the fairest OF these women"
| OBSERVER