The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-02-22

WEDNESDAY, MORNING, FEBRUARY { 1854.
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Ccrrsspondsncs Of the Rsshmsna pisps och.
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
sAsnfon--A POEM, mr. rAak BHNJAs IN.
WASHINGTON, I 'eb. II
The announcement that the usual leefar for FRI
day evening It the Smithsonian lnatitnte vas TO be
dispensed with, and hist poem BY rh K bEssA-
brought together At an early hour this evening.
thronxed hall Of eagerly expecsant ladies and gen
tlesnen. whoee anticipations of rich treat were
more than realized. during the hour and halt
which was occupied Ia the recital OF thss poem The
theme OF the poet was announced a. on
Is nv some men worshipped and by 50 me reviled,
nav grand and stately, now absurd and wild
II has existed since old time began
From the first fg leaf 10 the latest fan:
Where the brown savage paints his naked skin,
Where the fine lady screws her figure In;
Where Indian SWANS with feathers braid up their
locks;
Where zcmblas daughters don their bearskin
where ON ,ker danes fold down their 'kerchiefs
Where Chin. ~e damsels squeeze their little feet;
Where Venus Hottcntots expand IN fat,
And girls of CT inca wear their noses MAJ s,s.
Make IN in bas,fc what they lack In size
Tina ALI aces an all countries were described
rs yielding to the sway OF Fashion.
All 10 one mower with necks submit siv bow,
All throng one altar a, I'd repeat one VOW"
before the shrine abb ured yet couTted, and yet
deemed divine"
Fashion. thy glores all tn world display.
Thy sovereign mandates an the world obey
Tn is portion of the poem was full of laughter
u,aro, ing hits and hits all around, so that every
bo6z "a ne in for share,
/. From, III splendid belle,
1vhose cha, conspicuous tell
n the old be- tux. like Grimes ofyore,
Who wore his vestments buttoned down before.
q What is the fas. hioni A question ladies use
Ten times as often as what is the news q
After fun descrip ton OF the Misses snooks, VINO
are represented DEB ghtt d only WIZ tne iioi ma
fion dandies can give, he sa.h
IL sigh sic om,aes, If all were IKE these,
Rat all ere not some wisdom yetrenlains
And there are some women y et-heaven be praised
with brains
After au amusing allusion TO some iaiinlons OF
the east, he came to describe the oio'N vi sei'e
men, when, as he said,
In tirnes more near concisely .oucKieo Id,
The dress il, Oft mistaken for the SKIN
II makes one weader, though not apt 10 scoo
How it was ever gotten on or OIL
Turning from the gentlemen, againhe said OF the
ladies' dress
"Not long ago, the gown was qaue 700 Dflei'
And gave the feet prominent reneI
small,
And those ancient figures nottoo t,ll.
Then to the ground went down the iehsiheneu
skirt. -, -,
Covered the shoes and nicely brushed the dirt.
After few hits at Bloomerism and some OF Its
kindred Irregularities in dress, the strong lnnded
women came in for share OF afternoon
IL NAV be one of womap's dearest rights
To make herself the strangest OF all sights;
But in nv mind serious question Turks,
IfChristian ladies oughtto turn to Turks Z
few very good hints then follows something In
this style:
Now ifthe fair might presume TO advise,
should cay something earnest IN tn Is wise:
Let eupe rfluity be cast aside,
Fitness not Fashion should be beauty s guide
Adapt youl- garments to your form and face
That which is consonant conters most grace
Then referring TO old portraits he said that hose
who please us most are those that nave the le"esI
ornaments and decorations
@Art has no fashion, and the artist true
Rejects all customs whether Old or new
Comparing taste ard fashion, he said:
81 ment;op taste because some people claim
That taste and fashion often mean the same |
Tbev never can but when all fashions haste
To pay their homage at the SIN Inc OF TASTE
Therefore, be governed, eer our chaflns oepaft |
Ye lonely ladies by tastes severe 'gn arr,
That when to you few outward 81 'els remain
& Ye may the magic of your smiles RETAIN
Having discussed quite fully the ia shions pertain
ing TO the dress OF LADIES' MS t'h was again
turned to the gentlemen anu III the ofii VI aoNce,
he went on to say:
ssDo little good, and seldom as you can,
Be proud ungentle scorn your fellow-Han;
Be last at funerals, foremost at each feast,
Gaze on stranger as at some wild beast;
Despise all study, never read book,
Act like a valet, and talk like a cook;
Cut country cousins whom you meet in town,
Don't know your aunt and stare your uncle down;
Wear small cane, in outside pocket stuck,
xubo
Walk with a shiver as it cracking eggs,
Look to your boots and cultivate your legs;
See that your hat be brushed smooth as silk,
Wear gloves, light, yellow or as white as milk.
Let a huge chain around your bosom fall
Holding an eyeglass like your earning-smal
Your coat to all mems eyes perfect mt,
As if not made for you, but you for it;
Then fondly cherished by precious few,
Strut like rooster, and be sure you'll do.
Spend all your time in listless, vacant ways,
Have but one trouble-how to make raise;
Read right records for the rich mems Wills
And hunt an heiress who can foot your bills |
But fortunes tickle; therefore be not RASH |
And never marry till you know there's cash"
The description of an exquisite dandy was exceed. |
pgly amusing, and the language used by the exqui.
site in speaking Of ball he has attended is quite
laughable for its aptuess:
"You little taste before
'Twasa dead tailyah, COMPOUNDED boah"
The advice given in regard to ibbing was in this
form somewhat:
sFibs are believed, when they're not too small
Be this your rule fb large, or not at all.
Fashion, regardless of ell moral force
Extols the meanest, siest faisest course:
vi all her votaries little does she ask.
Except with grace to wear handsome mask
Which, white 1t decks the body, strips the heart"
After referring to the frenzy with which Kossuth
and Fanny Ellsler were received, he said:
$50 the great Speaker had but little more
Than the great dancer, several wears before.
Ine seifsame moo Tor hossuth screamed and tnump-