Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-07-26
Foreign Fashions.

Theyie safest tchen at rest.
Foreign Fashions.
One Of our greatest national defects
is want OF self.re!iarce. I his does moi
,nlcel, extend ,hrou.,h all classes Of
society; what We call the srsiocracy,
and especially those who ape the man.
ners of aristocrats, are remarkable for
this ult. Our sturdy farmers rely up.
on their own resources, and are con.en.
tel with their own natur,l simplicity oi
manners. Our enterprising on inven.
tive mechanics never stop to inquire II
rrenchmen or Enslishmen have done so
AMI so, when they see Improvements to
be made. In all practical affairs, in
most ordinary phases oflife, in politics.
ffeeom Of thou ht,anl progress the Yam.
KEGS are law unto themselves; they
wait for not example, bu sci an example
to the world; they teach their neis shbors
the trus dignity Of manhood and the
boun Hess capacities of the human mind
But as soon as we try TO be elegant
then we fail. We slIu s.ls after fashion
and make Ourselves ridiculous. As long
as we are con,ented to be thought simply
active, honest men, we may shame
Iospo's; but becoming ambitious to be
thou hit fine gentleman We kiss The feet
Of cur interiors; we crawl in the dust be
fore NJ ,nseurs an John Bull.
All our fashions must come over the
water. to be worthy Of our patronage.
We are morbidly afraid Of a new style,
which rejoces not in some foreign title,
All cur fine manners, TO ensure respect
and conformity, must be imported.
And then what miserable trash we
gratefully accept from Monsieur. in
place Of our ow n substantial wares! To
be saleabIe, im article must be French,
and inferior to our home make. So far
has this silly rage for foreign s,uffs pro.
gressed, ,ha, many shrewl Yankees have
made their everlasting fortunes Ivy man.
u(actuiing German broadeloaths, French
silks, and Parsian boots at home, and
selling them us importutions.-Our dan
dies. who sneer with disgust at the
thought Of bottled cider, drink, large
quantities of it with keen relish, believ.
ing it to be veritable vim de champagne
We read the label. and inquire the price
Of on importation, TO decide upon its
merits and GENTLY.
All our lions have to be imported. or
male abroad. Our native prophets dre
without honor in their own country.
They must receive foreign praise and
patronage, before we disc cover their gifts.
An actor must have been opplaudel by
a London critic, before he can comm nd
respect in New York or Boston; and to
in ure the favor Of the aristocraey, all
our professional men must see foreign
,manners. and study in foreign school.
This defect in the rational character
lis never more apparent, than when a
count, LORD, or a second.rate author
from the old world, makes his advent in
our polished circles. Plenty Of whis.
kers, and on outlandish title are .pffic en-
to act all ou. simpsrine sris,oe ratio
,b,lles languishing after any Italian or
Spanish monkey. Even Martin Tup.
per, the most commonplace ofpoetlings.
IS honored, patronixed, fawnsi upon by
sentimentalists and toadies, who would
never take the least notice Of anything
so vulgar a. a native author.
How long shall these thing. be. We
answer os long az we want sufficient
self.reliance. to be conien,ed with our
own manners, our own national genius,
and our free country. Let us throw
aside this prejudice seainst ourselves,
ie, us abnnion this foolish spins sof
foreign styles. Let us be American
gentlemen ant la4lies. without base ii) !.
i.a.ion of,ransatlantic folk; ist us at all
events be American mon and women,
and teach the world 10 respect ns lor
what ~ are. and not 70 sness at a. lor
wtat We would sppssr u ". but eannot
Ssseaas 1esssx 7fse Flsy.