Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-09-28

open BoSOnlS.

tpen B0SOmS.
Fashion. as The world knows, is and
always has been tickle and inexplicable
jade. whose extravagancies and inconsis-
tencies goodly number. especially Of
the fair sex. have ever shown themselves
anxious to follow. Fashion, so long as
she induces departure from convenience
and good sense only. merely excites our
laughter or contempt: but when. with
her iirm and long established prestige.
she influences her gentle votaries TO mart
company with meek-eyed Mcdesty, she
richly deserves 10 be decried.
To eschcv useless homily. and come
at once 10 our point. why is it that la
dies of fashion and position. as they are
happy TO be considered. can so far forget
what belongs 10 proper decoTum and DEL
lcacy. as to adopt style of dress to which
Ii would seem no truly virtuous woman
can submit without blushngf Why is
II that they can expose to the gaze of
every roue and idle lounger portion of
those charms. which no condition Of So
cia. ethics, no regard for Jienseancc. no
Jealous love of homer should for a mo-
ment tolerate?
Have the days when molesty was re-
garded as the chiefest Of wornan's Jewels.
passed away? Has purity Of mind. and
much more purity of semblance. ceased
to be held in estimation among the fair
Daughters of cur land? We trus. no.
indeed; though daily occu.er experience
would point TO another faith.
1t has long been mystery 10 us--a,5
lis solution we have resolved in vain
now women-not ladie8, for that is a
faise, himsy and unpoe:ical torm-whc
think rightly and would cause HOLY
thoughts in Others, can so far forget what
self-respect claims, and what modestv de.
mands. as to expose in the most tempting
shape and attractive fashion, part of the
human form with which only the deares,
and most tender ties should render man
iemiliar. Are their motives innocent.
or is their Judgment deficient? One or
the other surely must be the case.
We are not squeamish nor prudisb we
'hink; ahd' perhaps in our anti-journalis-
TIC cosacity, we might have no objection
to The prevalence OF fashion tina: is SO
generally admired By rakcs and lovers of
the MYSTERIOUS beautiful in nature-weu
IL may be too, furthering as ii does the
designs OF the former and the gratifica-
ton OF the latter; but as supporters OF
proper dellcacy and we'll wishers OF So
ciety' as admirers of genuine female love-
iiness and conservators of public morals,
I we advocate the abandonment of "open
posoms mot In metaphorcal sense
which are most artistically arranged.
10 aorbie every charm they seek to hide.
Fielding well advises women who
would be always secure, to guard zeal
ously the most remote outworks of their
virtue, Tor those conquered, the citadel
Itself stands in imminent danger. His
thought has wonderful pertinence TO
our present subject, we opine.
Men must indeed be Josephs nova
days. since they are confronted hourly
by manifold temptations that would en-.
danger The most rigorous Car.husisn's
peace.
Do our fashionable ladies 90 halfclad
Tor the purpose of being " hat is denuded
gazed at? Have they determined 20 ex.
pose their bosoms TO the eye of curious
connoisseurship? are they rivals ofeach
other to attract the warm and licentious
giances that we have always been taught
true chastity sought to shun?
We are not Of the daughters of Eve,
ana hence cannot answer ourselves
VIII some charitable lady of fashion en-
tighten us, and inform Us if the days Of
Charles the Merry. and Louis the Volur-
tuons. have dawned AGAIN.
We are earnest In our enquiries. and if
our lnudable curiosity in this cannot row
De satisfied, we may make other inquiries
10 obtain response; and in conclusion.
we indulge the hope that some Of the fair
daughters ofcur Western Metropolis Will
crafty our humble selves without delay.
Cincinnati Daily Times.