Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-07-13

make any required compensation. But b
would neither take the gloves back, nor tax
, any compensation for them. Kindly an
brother like. he desired her to keep them a
a warning, hoping that no such temptation
5 would ever overcome her again. Who couI
have done anything more noble, or NOR
likely to reform or save from future errors
From the Southern Baptist.
Style.
We must confess, Notwithstanding the gene
raj elevation of American society, that dan
gerous elements exist in its constitution
The great cities are the regulators of Oh
manners. They extend a sensible influence
over all parts of the country. From these
centres the power OF the press is exerted
And our migratory fashionable society, in ii:
visits to watering places and its country so
iournings, carries the infection of mctropoli
tan customs aud principles, everywhere. /
Isl fact which, however painful and alarmnr
ought not to be concealed, that these exam
i pies and lessons are not, for the most part
such rs our people can wise y follow. The
New York Times, in recent editorial or
the social organization of that city, says:
"Our fashionable society is a shame, from,
beginning to end. 1t is utterly unsound
dppraved, and unnatural deceptive piece
of rotten wood, made to look shiny with
French polish, and glittering with the phos.
phorescent light Of corruption-a copper
cent, trying its very best to look like five.
franc piece, and, what is worse, in nine
cases out of ten succeeding"
That this is a correct description of New
York society, we are assured by persons who
have devoted to il prolonged investigation
But in modified sense il is also true of a
class to he found everywhere The great
end Of life with our iashionables, is an Epicu.
rean enjoyment, more or less refined, and
therefore the whole weight Of their example
tends to depreciate the popular morals. In.
stead of the moderation, the temperance. the
self sacrifice, enjone,l by the precapts Of the
Gospel aud the example of Jesus Christ
himself; high Living, worldly pleasure, ex.
travagancc ofstyle and freedom of indulgence
are exhibited as the proper destination OF
man.-For these, social amenities are reser.
ved TO these, social distinctions are award.
ed To encourage these, Il thousand examples
of the self.styled great, are operative all
And WHAT IS theTp; we may
what is there in this style of yoIif4s, that de.
serves to be initiated or even desired by ra.
,ioual man? 1t is easier, and therefore far
less creditable, to spend than to gather. We
know that creditors lose, that honest lahorers
remain unpaid, that innocent families are
rnined, by the extravaganza OF dress and
eqnipaye and furniture that build up the
motley structure Of fashionable greatness
We have known luxury itselfto be used as
cloak for newsmpositions and one who is
about to fall has enlarged his expenditures,
ambitious, it would almost seem, of burying
rs many fortunes as possible beneath the
wrecks of his own. And to what society
can we repair, where we shall not find stvle
magnifcence of apparel, carelessness of ex-
penditure, notoriOus Y adopted us sharper's
trick to secure some advantageous marriage
or unfair advanage? So that if fashion
improves the arts, and multiplies the refine
nlents of human intercourse, it vet is pro-
life snurce of injustice and dishonesty.
A man Of ton we must admit, is not neces.
rary dishonest person. But the natural
influence Of the principles to which he is
subservient, bears him powerfully toward
this destination Of character. lie permits
himself to be judged not by what he is, but
by what he has; not by himself, but by his
ternals.-llis first duty is to slime. He
consents to be judged by the splendor Of his
plumes, and is comp lacently permitted to
forget from whom aud by what methods he
obtained them.
But fashion is most objeo tionabe because
it turns away the attention from the most i'm
portant duties of life. 1t strips humanity of
its most elevated sentiments. 1t has even
power to make mothers unnatural The dear
little ones who should have drawn life from
the maternal bosom, are committed to meni.
aIs. The precious immorals who should
have heard Of God and heaven from maternal
lips, and seen the living pattern OF religion in
its most sanity form-the maternal example
are neglected with cruel Indifference.
Home ceases to be home 1t is merely
couch where stiff gentleman condcscend
occasionally TO loll: it is wardrobe where
fussy lady keeps her dresses and essences
it is anything rather than the Home, sweet
Home" to which the child Of i more exem.
plary patronage refers through all his lille as
a speaking type OF heaven!
From such domestic and social organiza.
lion, what can we except! What results
acturaly appear? Fashion demands that
the available resources Of its votary shall be
appropriated to display. The duties of
charity must therefore be neglected. People
live not to obey Gods will or to advance
mans happiness, but to be amused. Shows
and shams take the place ofreaities Grace>
appear where virtues ought to be. Moral
obligations give way before conventional
propreies true religion is exchanged for
lip service and empty form. And humanity
in ceasing to he useful, ceases to be great
and beautiful ard miiner's models aud bar.
ber's blocks parade their pcrishaLle and idle
ostentations in the front of society--occupy.
ing the stations which the God of nature has
set apart to true women and true men.
What we need among us, is not style but
virtue. Let this be the object of our aspira.
lions. A lofty character sense Of immor-
tality, a sensibility to human sorrow, an un.
conscience, love of home and
country, reverential, trustful regard to God
such are the true ideals of great people.
Such are the attributes of that true aristocra.
cy, to whom may God in his mercy commit
the interests Of the republic i