Washington sentinel., 1853-11-10
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.

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FASHION--DISPLAY-
From the painted and half nude Indian, from
the greasy Hottentot lassie, up to the queen on
her throne, and the belle in her brilliancy, all
is vanity. To deck her person, to supply by
art the deficiencies of nature, is the great ruling
passion of woman. The young savage puts a
paint all over her person, and she struts in her
grotesque decorations, as if she thought that by
mutilating nature she increased her charms
She spoils beauty to make belle-for most
strangely and unaccountably she becomes the
pet Of her tribe, and the idol Of all the young
savages who feel the influence Of the tender
passion.
Nor is this vanity, and this false TASTE con-
fined to the gentler sex. The young savage
warrior, not content with his symmetrical form
and with his natural graces, deforms his body
and his handsome face by tattooing them, until
he looks more the devil than the human being
The little beads and trinkets that he uses as
ornaments, are more valued than all the solid
and substantial things that contribute to COM
fort and happiness. Vanity-the vanity of ap-
pearing wells passion natural to the hui
man heart-alike to the savage damsel, who
struts in the reeking trophy Of a fresh cut bear
skin, and to the delicate and lovely belle, who
appears in gems almost as brilliant as her
eyes, and in roses not much more delicate than
her damask cheek.
Savages are rough types Of men and women
who have been reared under the influences Of
civilization and..refnement. The passions that
animate them are the same. The only differ
ence is, that they are modified and take diff.
ferent direction.
The savage maiden paints her body, the
bright beauty of civilization paints her cheek.
The one wears ring in her nose, the other
rings in her ears The one girdles herselfwith
the gaudiest zone she can command, the other
arrays herself in stuffs of the costliest quality
and the richest dies.
They are the same by nature, they have been
changed by circumstances The same parallel
may be run between savage and civilized men.
The most expensive Of all qualities is the love
Of display. The longest wars Of nations have
not cost as much as the vanity Of the individ-
uals composing those nations. What is spent
on vanity in one year would defray the expenses
Of. educating nation. 1t is the inordinate
Indulgence of this passion, that destroys many
Young men, and debanches and debases many
young women. If the rewards ofhonest indus
try are found inadequate TO meet It's demands,
new and guilty sources Of gain are resorted to,
and soon the gems purchased blythe sacrifice of
virtue, are the chosen and boasted ornaments
of insatiate vanity.
Vanity, we believe, is the most dangerous of
all qualities. One man is avaricious, one man
is prodigal; one cold-hearted, another head
strong-but all are vain, and he would donor
to improve individual and national character,
than all others, who would devise feasible
means Of curbing vanity.
The lower orders follow the examples set
them by persons in PLACE and power. What
prevails in the court, is diffused downwards
through all classes. IF luxurious living, mag
niticent style, and gorgeous apparel distinguish
the upper circles, there will always be feeble
imitation in the lower circles.
Apes and monkeys are decked in gaudy
costumes to attract the attention of children.
and excite the merriment of spectators; and
it would be well for men and women, who are
made in the image Of their maker, to leave TO
apes and monkeys the tawdry fnery with which
they so often disfgnre their persons.
Vanity exhibits itself in different forms and
aspects. Diogenes in his tub, is the most
offensive form that it can assume. There are
many who, like the brutal cynic, hypocritically
assume humility, in order to get greater honor.
There is oftentimes more pride and vanity
under homespun, than broad cloth but, as this
is no essay on vanity, we dismiss those who
follow Diogenes, with the remark, that the only
agreeable circumstance connected with their
vanity, is its cheapness.
These hurried remarks have been suggested
by the following sensible article which we clip
from the Pittsburg Post:
PARIS FASHIONS AND AMERICAN FoLLH--
There are many kinds Of slavery in the world;
but none more expensive senseless and mis-
chievous than the slavery Of the American peo
pie to Partisan dress-makers. Paris is the
great emporium Of fashions for the civilized
world and no people now are more ready and
eager 10 adopt the ever-varying fashions and In
ventions Of French ingenuity, than the people
Of the United States. Two or three times every
year Parisian artists invent new styles Of dress