New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-06-17

thing flowing, graceful, dignihed, and rich In
various hues For painting and sculpture,
they say, the ordinary dress of Man is quite
impracticable, and even the admixture of
female attire cannot often obViate the diff
Guilty, or make group of moderns seem
other than a caricature. On the other hand,
our innoyators seek to increase this very
artistic evil, by arraying Woman in dress
less flowing and graceful, and to which a
rich and brilliant harmony Of color is impos-
sible There is apparently contradiction
in the purposes of these apostles of the
newness. Let us see if there is no way of
reconciling them.
But first let it be remarked, that this
tyranny of fashion. against the extremes
of which we protest, is yet at bottom good
thing 1t is a striking symbol of human
unity that essentially the same costume
should be worn by people of remote regions
and different climes. Itpresages other vic
tories of the same kind If all the tribes
and races of humanity wear the same garb,
if Turks and Americans, Russians and
Sandwich Islanders, alike dress in the last
Paris fashion, why should they not speak
the same language, live under the same
laws and the same social and political inStl-
buttons! Depend upon it, here is the mean
ing of this universal fact which we call
fashion.
Just as dress marks the difference be-
tween Man and the animals, so the advent
of taste and the attempt at beauty in dress,
mark the exodus of society from the print
tive rudeness and ferocity of savage life
Especially is this indicated by the introduce
ton of long and flowing garments. The
chieftain who would assume the outward
badges of authority, the priest or sage who
would impose upon the multitude respecttor
his superior and sacred functions, instinct
ively and in all nations, array themselves
in full and flowing drapery. For not only
does that imply exemption trOmthe common
lot of Serylle toll but it acts upon the imagl-
nation and hightens the impression of dig
nifty and superiority This is verified by all
history Kings priests, lords, maglcians-
all those classes and individuals who have
possessed, or sought to possess, rank and
privileges above the mass of mortals, and
who have thus been obliged to appear in
public in dramatic and representative way,
have naturally enrolled themselves in ample
and longitudinal garments. On the other
hand, slaves, dependents, the vulgar many,
workmen, merchants, in short all who must
gain then living by .heir own care and toll,
have always worn close-fttng and unpre-
tending dress.
Now it is fact well worth noting, that
in Christian and civilized countries this dis
tinction is reserved for extraordinary Occa-
sions, and is rapidly on she way to total dis
appearance An English Duke in she street
or in his palace Is not differently dressed |
from an English draper, except that his
coat may be of finer cloth and made by
better tailor the fashion is the same only
OH state occasions does he mount his me-
diayaI robes and shine forth i'll trailing and |
spangled mantle The representative cos
tune has almost entirely vanished from the
ordinary life of dignitaries. The Catholic
priest still wears it, though in Protestant
countries with deductions and diminutlons,
but the Protestant priest, if at all, only in
performing the rites OF his office. Even |
the Emperor of Russia, the last great and
real representative of the Old World re-
naming IN Europe, appears abroad in the
dress of a citizen, and best loves the uni
form of soldier for his days of gala.
Thus we see that everywhere and among
all ranks of men, in this age, the costume of
Work and Equality has been adopted And
this has been done through no design OF en-
deaFor, but by instinct and the spontaneous
development of things. Is there any other
sign of the universal revolution more asten
ishing than this, when its scope is once APP
pretended When princes and emperOrs
go about daily in the garb of Democracy, no
further argument is needed to prove that the
world has Outgrown the need of such furni
ture, and that the day is at hand when HUI
manity, Genius, and Productive Art will be
recognized as afTording the only TILE to mum
dane dignity and honor.
Bat while kings, mobiles and priests have
thus been dismanled and disrobed, and
brought down to the common fashion, Wom-
an has still retained her symbolic superiority
of costume This is because she has re-