Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1855-05-10
NO. 1S.
WoMAN's DUTY TO LOOK PRETTY.

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uses but it is of limited application. We
should have rejoiced in title of more exten-
dcd significance, with contents corresponding
to the title The subject should have been,
in etfect-word it as you may-the duty of ev
cry woman to look as pretty as she can! Some
women are unfortunately not pretty but there
are few women who cannot impart something
of comciness even to an ill-favored face and a
misshapen figure, if they will only take the
trouble.
awe speak very gravely when We say that
there are few relations in life or rather that
there are few relationless conditions, in which
this is not duty. That cleanliness is a vir-
tue is seldom denied. A pretty woman,
doubtless, looks prettier when clean, and an
ugly uglier when dirty And there are duties
beyond personal cleanliness. Neatness, tidi-
ness, follow closely upon it. But something
more may still be needed and something more
clearly seen and properly described, is the
least possible spice of coquetry.
"a well-drcssed woman, however little she
may be favored by nature, ceases to be plain.
1t is difficult, indeed, to limit the extent to
which woman, by due attention to dress, may
improve her natural attractions, or obviate the
disadvantages with which she was born And
that it is her duty to do this, whether she be
we'll or i'll favored, is something more than
maxim of mere worldlncss. To endeavor to
the utmost to please those with whom we live
is unquestionably duty.
ga man marries, indeed, for the sake of the
lomus ri placens nror. He does not take
woman to his hearth because she is philoso-
pher, or an arithmetician, but because in
homely language, there is something nice about
her. 1t was, doubtless, the design of the Al
mighty, in giving man a helpmate, that she
should satisfy his natural craving after the
beautiful, the graceful and the gentle. For
! this was woman formed:
"For softness she and sweet attractive grace"
The woman who forgets this, ignores one of
the great objects of her creation. The wife
| who forgets this, violates one of the primal
conditions Of the connubal contract
''Ihat some women are naturally more beau
titu and graceful than others, is fact which
makes not against, but for our argument
Dress is common to all. 1t is a consolation to
those not naturally gifted, that there is point
at which nature yields to art, and the work Of
mems hands is potent to supply the adornment
not vouchsafcd by Providence. 1t is surpris.
ing what very little way mere personal beau
itV g9es:. .,,.. confidently amman, B., ~. sxn.r;
ence Of men Of the world in support of the
assertion that the efforts Of art are often more
pleasing and attractive than the gifts Of ma
turc-in other words, that we'll dressed wo-
men are more admired than merely beautiful
ones. Accident is beaten by effort in the
great Olympics Of society.
"lt may be agreed that taste in dress is
scarcely less natural gift than personal beau
ty. And, to some extent, at least, the fact
must be admitted. One woman has naturally
an eye for color and form, whilst another has
neither the one nor the other But there are
few women who have not, or cannot acquire, a
sufficient knowledge of the becoming in cos
tune for all domestic purposes. It may be
doubted, indeed, whether the plea of incom.
potency is ever set up. The real secret of in.
attention to dress is relessness-indiferenc
-idleness. 1t is not worth the trouble. Wo.
men do not always consider that what it is
worth their while to gain, it is worth their
while to keep. 1t is no uncommon thing for
women to become slatternly after MARRIAGE
They say they have other things to attend to,
and dress is habitually neglcctcd-exccpt per-
haps, on great occasions, when there is dis.
play Of Gnery and bad taste abroad, to be fol-
lowed by greater negligence at home. Great
| respect is shown to what is called company
but apart from this there is display of fnery
and bad taste abroad, to be followed by great
er negligence at home. Great respect is shown
to what il called company but apart from
this there is a sort Of cui Lono abandonment,
and the compliment which is paid to strangers
is withheld from those who have the best right
to claim, and are most likely to appreciate it.
This is fatal, but too common error. When
a woman, with reference to the question of
personal adornment, begins to say to herself,
1T is only my husband" she must prepare
herself for consequences, which, perhaps, she
may rue 10 inc latest Gay OF her llfc
''The effect, indeed, of attention or inatten-
| ton to dress-and VIC include in the one lit
tie word whatever contributes to personal
comeliness and ttractiveness-upon the do
mestic happiness, especially Of the lower and
middle classes, cannot easily be overstated.-
The placens ucor, as We have said, is no small
part of the locality of home. If man finds
that he has not secured what he believed he
had married, he has right to feel disappoint-
ed We do not say he has right to retaliate.
The obligations Of the connubial contract are
not conditional, but absolute Negligence On
the one side does not excuse negligence on the
other; but it will very surely induce it.
When there is nothing attractive at home, O
man, however inexcusable such conduct NAV
be, will seek it abroad, whether at the ale
house, the club, the theatre, the gaming table,
or in what is called "society." We do not
mean to say that dress alone is the agency by
which the cratic properties of husbands arc
to be restrained, but that it is highly impor-
tant part Of it. Indeed, it may be asserted
Il II -