Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1853-01-06
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For the Freeman.
FASHION.
Mr., EDITOR:

Mr.. EDITOR:
There is something mysterious in the pecu
liar power which fashion exercises over oul
tastes and feelings. 1t seems as though any
change in dress, no matter how absurd. i
once understood to be fashionable, takes i'm
mediately the form of beauty upon it, and
becomes graceful and necessary article o.
apparel, until some more absurd change
crowds it into oblivion and its hideous defor-
ity then suddenly becomes apparent to the
eye, that before could only discover good
taste prevailing throughout its every Inca
ment. 1t is true that small number of that
class whom the world stigmatize with the ap-
pellation of Progressionists,' turn up
their noses at the proposed innovation, and
straightway put forth declaration of war to
the knife against such an absurdity. But
fashion triumphs and we behold its most in
veterate enemies its willing but unconscious
slaves.
The style in which our ancestors clad them
selves half century ago. appears to u.s. (their
enterprising descendants ridiculous in the
extreme; although considered by them, the
ne plus ultra of refined taste And on the
contrary, could one of our lavender-water
dandies have suddenly made his appearance
in Broadway, N. Y, at the commencement of
the 18th century, he would have offorded as
much amusement to our staid ancestors of
that age, as would a native of the Fegee
Islands, preambulating the streets of our own
peaceful and quiet little village. Then,
gentlemen dressed in tights silk stockings
and low shoes ornamen.ed with large, snowy,
gilt buckles, coats cat a Ia Quaker, trimmed
with metal buttons about the size of cup
plate, and to put the finishing stroke Of good
taste to the dress, and impart proper dignity
to the appearance, the hair was suffered to at
tain an extraordinary length and then bound
up in queue, (denominated by the vulgar a
pigs tally having first been bountifully be-
sprinkled with white powder, which impair
ted the appearance to the wearer of having
thrust his head into barrel of flower; though
in some instances the hair was entirely con-
cealed By wig, done up and bepowdered as
before described. Now, the hair is deprived
of the ornamental powder, and cut as closely
to the head as can conveniently be; the tights,
knee-buckles, shoes, &C., have given place to
pants, boots, and coats of almost every imag-
Unable cut and color, and the general appear
ance of the man now is as nearly analogous to
what it was fifty years ago, as that Of craw
fish to teraupn.
We cannot censure this love of change as in
any manner criminal, in asmuch as it is only
the exercise of those desires fer novelty which
the Creator has implanted in our minds
But we must not forget that the same boun-
titul being has supplied us with an equally
powerful feeling in our admiration OF, and de-
sire for physical excellence; or, as it is term
ed, beauty
And it is strange that the former feelings
can so far overcome the latter that, as to rem
der the hump of camel tasteful append
age, and the stiff, awkward appearance and
motion impaired to the human frame by be-
ing encircled with yard of stifly starched
linen, Just where the head attaches to the
body, the par ercelzence of grace and beauty.
But perhaps the solution of the problem may
be found in the theory of some authors. that
the idea of beauty is not susceptible of being
reduced to any fixed rules. TIMOTHY.