Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-04-07
MAHIN Il CLEMENS.
Tyranny Of Fashion.
MUscATNE, ON fHE EVENING OF APRIL 1, 1854.

eMr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:
The influence Of example and the fashisn
Of the world have much to do in the forma-
e,atisn Of our physical, moral and religious
characters; eur natures seem to iistinc-
crtivsly shrink from living singular. You will
find the boys on the street affected with a
periodical similarity Of conduct. At one
time, you will see every tnos Of boys play
ing marbles; then, again, they will be play
ing ball: then, again, they will be driving
their hoops through the street, and then
again they will be flying their kites. These
shsnges follsw each other With ~ much una
aimity and regularity A. If there was com
mittss to regulate the affair; and when far
thsr advanced in years, most remarkable
similarity appears in their dress: At one time
their coats will all be blue; at another,
black; ct another, gray; at another, yellow;
and then, again, Of many colors; their shirt
6osoms sometimes plain; sometimes the mar
row plete and then the broad plsts; the shirt
Sollar at times pssring modessly just above
shs sravst, at ether times cha6ng the ear
For want Of room; sometimes neatly round
Cd at the ssrners, at others standing out in
Front Of the face - if to defend it from
harm; and yes these changes come SO sud
denly and quietly and yet with ssch uniform
ity, thst We, whose eyes are dim, ara led to
suppose the change nust have been agreed
upon in general convention. Unfashiona-
able goods cannot be sold questionable
clothes must perish in the drawer unfash-
ionsble men and boys have but few friends;
in order to pass at all in strange place a
man must be well dressed, and If well dress
ed, with . genteel manner, che devil could
pass in any crowd. Boys learn to swear,
to drink whisksy, to chew and smoke to-
tacco, because it 10 fashionable.
We see the other sex to some extent un-
der the influence of fashion. The young
misses in their short skirts and pantalotts-
the older ones with their bonnets so metimes
on the head, at other times hanging to the
back Of the head, yet all alike.
The minister of the gospel must preach
the good old dostrinal sermon after the fash
ion set by the fathers; he mustO pray that
same old prayer, he must be as den ure and
prim as wax figure; he must net be seen
on the streets too often; he must not eat
bacon, beans, cabbage and roasted pota, oes;
he must not be seen to vote, or laugh, or
work; he must not crack joke, or talk
about the common concerns Of life-for in
30 doing they would let down the dignity
OF their sacred profession to the Lowell of
common sense, and that would be sacri-
legious outrage.
The young lady must not be seen in the
kitchen, or with coarse dress or a check
apron on, or at the wash tub; she must not
wear thick shoes or warm stockings; her
hands must be white and delicate and her
face pale or size will be set down as decd-
edly vulgar and s'lose CASTE" II she makes
any pretensions to gentility, she mus. not
know how to make her own dress, or cook.
or sweep, or wash; be afraid of the COW,
run from the old horse, and scream at the
dog; be perfectly shocked at the voices of
the children; lecture her mother for her awk-
wardnsss, and her father for being so old
fashioned; be very weakly; faint often; use
large quantities of paint and powder; set up
all night and sleep oil day. or nearly, dress
up in the afternoon and make few fash
ionabls calls; "shop'' awhile and try the
patience Of the clerks; be entirely familiar
With the last novel, the last party, the last
wedding, the last match, and The latest
fashion.
The young man must chew and smoke to-
baeee and be able to spit upon the floor,
the wall, the chair, the stove, the carpet,
and every thing movable and immoyable
within his reach, and not finch or make
wry face; hs must also get eight occa-
sionally, and visit the gambling houses and
learn to play billiards, together NTH an oc-
casional game Of suchrs. poker or cold
sledgs;" and whsn speaking Of his parents
must say sths old man. or ssthe old wo-
man."
The pious old lady ID expected to be at
church very regularly; maintain long face
on Sunday; to tell the truth generally, ex-
osPt st tea party or when defending or
praising her children; she is expected to be
stricken with horrer at the sxtravaganss Of
her sex whom any Of them get a new dfess,
or new bonnet or the old one "done up,''
or gets new shawl, or puts some artifcials
or ribbon on the inside Of her bonnet. -
These things are to her an utter abomina-
tion.
Pious people are all expected to outlaw the
dancer and swearer, and criminals Of all
kinds, (that 10, IL he has been caught and
oondsmned;) and especially must they be
severe in their denunciations against the
poor unfortunate female who oversteps the
bounda Of virtue. That is Q crime which
no amount Of sontrition, repentance, and
correct living can atone for; she must be
discarded. Not 90 with the male: even fc-
males who are themselves above suspicion,
treat such vulturss ~ friends, and in my
knowledge they are the most popular ladies'
men, while the same class Of females would
consider II . righteous act to spurn the err
ing female from her door with the bitterest
mslsdictions which language could af,rd
or tongue esuld utter.
Although it has been proven by the ex-
psrienee Of all time, that kind acts and kind
words are the only efFsctual method of re-
claiming tho fallen and bringing them back
10 the correct path, yet how different is the
practice. The criminal is an ou,cast in So
clety; his name is hys-worl and u re-
proach; he is treated with the snecrs, the
groans, and the hisses of the community;
the mother stills her child by the terror Of