The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-03

FxTRAvAGANCE OF THE FAsHIoNs-A walk up
ond down Chestnut street, on fine day, affords
splendid dress fabrics exhibited in the shop vim
cows and the costly costumes displayed on the fair
pedestrians one IL quite persuaded that the popular
Ss Ladies'
travsgantly. Not only is brocade considered abso-
lutely necessary, by many dame, on her daughter,
who was formerly contented with plaid silk, but
in the velvet trimmings alone Nor does the fashion
able thirst After expense stop here. Lace under
sleeves and lace chemisetes exhaust the purses OF
husbands; and lest these should fail to engulph
sums sufficiently large, lace trimmings fringe the
pcticoat, to dabbe In the mud Of the sidewalk. An
observer in Chestnut street might be pardoned for
concluding that every father was millionaire, and
every fair pedestrian al heiress
these pet fashions were conducive Of health there
might be some reason tor such extravaganza. But
the very Iaces which cost 30 much, really traps
for consumption. To parade public avenue on
bleak November dap, with chest defended only by
baftraDsparent veil Of lace, or with arms compa-
rativey bare to the elbows, Is the height OF folly;
but to abandon ocse sleeves and high corss ges for
this giving costume, is madness ITSELF 1t is
true that the fashionable lady insists on set Of ex-
summer ike attire. She dresses unreasopably at
twice the cost IL would take to dress properly aud
then makes this plea for purchasing new style
VictofiIe. II she is wealthy, she wears point lace
or Honiton and fuIs of ermipe or Russian sable. IL
she is less able to indulge in the Injuries of fashion,
she adheres, nevertheless to its absurdties, sport
ing her cheaper embroideres even il she cannot af
ford furs at all, content to SILVER If she only
shine.
A contemporary has propounded questi %, where
is the money! ard answer, in the fine dresses Of
our wives and daughters II Is idle to say that the
extravaganza we speak OF IL confined to what Is
called the upper ten" The female attire, in all
conditions of life, il criniraly expensive at least
twice as much so as it was five years ago, and 1t
threatens to increase. The clerks wife initiates the
wife of the merchant the poor milliner, the fine
lacy; black Dinah, Mrs. Potiphar. The ruinous ex.
ample extends and widans, ramifying into every
social circle, and exhaustiag an as yregate sum an
nuaUy, which would brighten the most thought
lese, sf 1t could be presented in figures. Most Of
these extravsgans fabrics, moreover, come from
abroad, and have in seasons like the pre- sent, when
exports are deficient, to be paid for in gold. 1t ia
to The tax which our luxury lays on u.s. to tbs ex-
pensive fssions we praise In our wives and daugh-
te, that owe not little Of the present scar ,ity
Of money. We may thank Paris, in this way, for
We do not deny that the men are also to blame.
II wives squander money on the fashions, husbands
two it Il no wonder that notes are selling at two
per cent that stocks are down, that gold is going
out Of the country The prices obtained for fashion
able bonnets, and tho Lricee paid for discounting
business paper, have closer connection than cur
sorry observer might think. They are, in fact cause
and PhAadslphia Ledger.
The carson lNa4ue-lhquOr ia Sorscys
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD.
JERSEY CRY Nov. 25, 1854.
In your report Of the proceedings at the meeting
held by the liquor dealers Of this city, on Friday
evening" you have, regret to say, fallen into mis-,
take, viz:--that / offered resolution urging the
withdrawal of patronage from Jersey papers, be-
cause they favored the cause Of temperance such
wss not the fact. trust shall never identity my.
self with drunkenness, or support or counte aauce
such vile charlottesville IN the eyes OF every
right minded man, as well as condemned by Goi's
WcId.
j sm for temperance and its PRONUNCIATION
Throughout tie length and breadth OF the land, but
net to be hievsd at the cost OF coercion, OF any
means that may be devised that would ne noon
pstible with the priv eqes tina. we enjoy as free
people. The resolution referred TO urged the with
drawa Of patronage from tSo papers, becadse an b
papers favored the Carson League 10 the Illegal
lnquistorial and tyrannical manner Ia which they
have acted towards many respt ctable citizens Ia
this cry. BY your inserting che above IN your
ned az widely circulated paper, you ELL confer
favor and much oblige your obeoient sssvAnt,
WIN. BAyIBR.