The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-14


and casts OF statues Of tistip merit nieht oftAu
b purchased by the exercise OF : reNnSd eoono.
my In dress, by the time her children were old
enough to appreciate them. BY MANY : mother
woo now sighs for her Inability to compete in
ex!fsyagant dress with wealthy and vulgar
Inc constant changes of fashion In female
areas, often afford the Broadway philosopher
inc most grotesque and ridiculous exhibitions Of
tne skill OF the cunning modistes who devise
them surprising ingenuity In contrivinq means
Tor Milling their pockets and unsettling the fee
O'e intellects of their purchasers, IL matter of
establishment, while the melancholy results of
aclose application to that ath-distributing
agent, the needle. is visible in the pale cheeks
OF their wretched employees, who are sacr-
iced by thousands on the altar of cupidty and
fashion. Sometime before the death of u dear
friend, whose charming pictures still speak his
memory, and revive our delighted though sad
recollections Of his wit and companionship, we
suggested, upon the appearance of some new
and monstroas absurdities in the dress of both
sexes, that he would allow his name so init
mately connected with refinement and correct
taste, to be associated with some of the more
eminent OF the ladies'. medical faculty. and 9TH
srs OF our graver and accomplished citizens in
the formation OF society to reform the mon
strous absurdities Of dress. That we should
depend upon the caprice Of some mere Partisan
ape OF a tailor or modiste, who often retajls to
our innocent country-women, some ingenious
device to conceal defective figure, or display
the contour of a voluptuous person, when we
have before us the classical representations of
the antique dress, and could 80 readily adapt
them to The use and entire convenience of mo-
dern life. forms hutniliating reflection to a
country of twenty millions of people, and one
that boasts model government
Every American woman should be above re-.
ceving the dictum of an ignorant and tasteless
dressmnker: she should be instructed in the
anatomy and physiology Of her system, and be
4 perfectly able at puberty, to give correct out
me OF classical figure, and its appropriate
dress, on the back board. She should then be
instructed to cut her own dresses in a simple
and elegant manner, and adapt them to her
figure, SO that not the least pressure should ex.
ist on any part Of her person. Indeed, without
good knowledge OF the pencil and the har.
mony OF cO0rs, her person and her house will
present what is 80 frequent in this city, gro.
3 tesque arrangement of dress, suitable for car.
nival or madhouse, and drawing-room that
} would pass for a furniture store or a pawnbro.
ker's shop. aoa
SO much, in our own opinion, is due to an in.
correct and serve taste in dress, that it in one
OF the principal causes Of the early decay OF
our countrywonen. Our climate demands, dur
{ ing one third Of the year, absolute warmth and
dry feet; and our fashionable countrywomen
would consider themselves disgraced by appear
ing in public, with dress and shoes that every
: intelligent Englishwoman wears as matter OF
course
Il On the subject of music. dancing, and decla-
nation, as connected with health, we could ex.
terd our ideas far beyond the limit of single
article. They have much to do with the physi.
cal inferiority of the present generation of wo.
+ men. The full use Of the lungs is so absolutely
connected with the preservation of health, that
We consider vocal music inseparable from true
physiological education The full imitation ne
cessary for the sustained expression of the au.
thor's idea in vocal music, is the best possible
stimulus that can be used within doors, for
their healthy development and the prevention
Of scrofula or tuberoular deposits; many q
f young girl has been saved from consumption by
early instruction in vocal music. Defamation
, or the clear and distinct uttorance in loud
and full voice whilst standing erect (and with
the lungs fully inflated and filled as fast as ex
) hausted,) OF the more elegant compositions in
:. prose and verse, Of English and French authors
is productive of the same result and should
never be neglected in the education of every
young girl. There is not one American woman
in thousand, who can read elegantly, or even
r correctly.
What shall we say of the music Of the opera
We are far from being nsensibe to its charms,
and the refining influence it exerts upor the
taste of the adult, but can by no means assent
to its good influence upon the young girl. It is
the highest expression of the language Of pas
Lain aud IL - l.
premature development of that system, so
completely under the influence Of passional
emotion. That opera music is suggestive of
higher thoughts and emotions, we freely admit,
and believe that intellectual adults may enjoy il
with propriety but we ought not to forget that
those high intellectual distractions that may re-
fine the intellect OF the adult, are produced by
the action OF two Senses equally SUI gestve of
earlier and stronger emotions Of sensual char
acter in those whose years have not allowed TIE
accumulation of material for thought and com
parison.
The piano, with judicously selected vocal
music, is not liable to so great an objection
hat instrument is certainly well adopted for
elry instruction in tie rudime to OF music
and patience; II is only to be regretted that
II il 40 often made the means Of injury to
| the health of the learner, by occupying too
much of her attention, too frequently under
the instruction of n teacher who seems utterly
unsuspicious Of the existence Of fingers or wrist
joints, or that the back bone is composed Of YER
eor@. The bent position in which delicate
or scrofulous child is compelled to sit for hours
practicng a dstasteful task, when nature cries
aloud for air, exercise and mirth (merely to
please the aspirations OF vulgar mother, or
needy ard perhaps incompetent teacher, and
when frequently there is not reasonable hope
Of the wretchcd child attaining the age of pu-
berty) forces upon us the conviction that it
plays prominent part in the early sacrifice of
| female life; indeed, we consider II may fairly
be classed with the needle in its pernicious re-
suits; single bonr for strong one, or hall
hour for delicate child, is all that sho uld be
devoted, at one time, to this agreeable but dan
gerous instrument.
Dancing, an accomplishment admirably adapt
ed to the promotion of gracefulness and health,
is too often made the means of developing i'm
urity of taste in the young. That charming