Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1855-06-30
4 Word TO Ladies.

There are many savings which have
been repeated so many times. by 50 ma
ny persons, tia: they have grown, per
force, into proverbs. And vet they may
be at bottom l.uie better than popular de-
lusions. We haze all heard that Beauty
unaLorned is adorned the most but like
many wise saws OF the kind, IN prose and
verse, it is only partially trIe. 1t is not
our province to anaiyZe the sources of the
beautiful, but We 90 in strongly for the
sfincss Of things" We are contened
that i liind0o woman should wrap
shee, about her body and throw the ends
Of it over her head. We think she would
be spoiled by stays and a bonnet. But
stays and bonnets become white women,
and the most beautiful ceases to become
so if she be badly dressed. And the con-
verse of this is generally true. a well
dressed woman, however liUIc she may
be favored by nature, ceases to bc plain.
1t IS difficult indeed, 10 limit the extent to
which woman bv due attention to dress
may improve her natural attractions or OBJ
viate the disadvantages under which she
was born.
There are some ladies' who argue that
the love which in any way depends upon
such accidents as the handlwork Of the
miIiner, the dreSsmaker, or the shOema-
ker, is of very IlIe worth. They know
that there are better things than dress, and
qualities more eslimable than skill in atu-
ring and adorning ones self. They are
conscious Of being good wives, excellent
mothers, good perhaps plouS
sisters and charitable neighbors and they
argue that these are the essentials for
which they ought to be appreciated by
I their husbands. But a man IS not nrccs
sarly a triller because he thinks that his
wilc's virtues are none the worse for set
ting off comeIy apparel. Wordsworlh,
we think it is, who greatest OF the phIIo-
sophie poets as he isl speaks of ''dellght
in little things" with feelings the very re-
verse of contempt. One Of wife's first
duties is to appear attractive in the eyes
of her husband. 1t was doubtless the de-
sign Of Heaven in giving man a helpmale
to satisfy his natural craving after the
beautiful, the graceful, and the gentle.
And the woman who practically ignores
this, lorgets one Of the great objects Of her
creation.
True, it may be argued that taste in
dress is scarcely less a natural gift than
personal beauty. And to some extent we
admit ii. One woman has naturally an
eye TO color and form, while another is
destitute of both. But few women have
not sufficient knowledge Of the bccom-
ing in costume for all domestic purposes.
The real secret Of !naUcntion TO dress Is
carelessuess and indifference. or idlcncss.
"lt is not worth the trouble"
1t is no common thing for women to
become slatternIy after marriage. They
neglect dress except when going abroad,
and then there is an immense display OF
hucry and bad taste. Great respect Is
shown to "company," but apart from this,
there is a sort of whats the use" aban-
donment, and the compliment which Is
paid to strangers, is withheld from those
who are the most likely to appreciate il,
and have the best TO claim it. When
woman with reference to the question OF
personal adOrnment begins to say TO her
self, ''It is only my husband, )" she must
prepare hcisef for consequences which
perhaps she may rue 10 the latest day Of
her life.