Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-06-05
yrIE IrlRESlDE,
From the North British Review
The Trines Of the Life Important.


From the North British Review.
The Trines Of the Life Important.
A well.dressed woman, however little
she may be favored by nature, ceases to
be plain. II is difficult indeed 10 limit
the extent TO which woman, by due at.
tenlion to dress, may improve her ma.
tural attractions, or obviale the disad.
vantages with which she vas bora.--
And that il is her duty 10 do this, whelh.
er she be we'll or ill.favored, is some.
thing more than maxim Of mere world.
illness. To endoavor 10 the utmost 10
please those with whom we live, is un.
questonably a duty. Such habitual
efforts to please constitute benevolence,
and not OF the lowest order.
Benevolence Of this, as Of every Other
kind, may run into excess. Our vices
tread closely on tho heels Of our vir.
tues. Indeed, there are few vices which
are not virtues in excess. 1t is no arsu.
ment against the practice Of any do.
meslic social amenity that il is liable to
abuse. We admit at once, in tho pres.
ent instance, that it is only good in
moderation. dressing in any sense
whether with reference 10 an undue
amount Of time or Of money expended
upon it's so obviously wrong that it is
a mere waste Of time to enunciate the
common place. We need not be told
that dress is a snare. 1t has lured
woman ere now 10 destruction. But
many household wreck has been oc.
casoned by the rocks which lie out in
the opposite direction. Many home
has been made miserable-many do
mastc tie has been broken by an hab
itual disregard Of "triaes." We use the
word Of common acceptance with people
we are pleased to take what they call
high ground, and TO walk with theil
heads in nuJiJus, crushing earth's faires
flowers under foot. But it is hard tc
say what, in the daily and curly in
tsrcours Of domestic life, is triae.--
The proverb--one Of the best and trues
ever coined--sayelh to US, "Take carr
OF your pence and the pounds will take
care Of themselves" Take care o
these minute fragments Of domestic
charity, and the great sum total to low
and happiness will take care of itself.
There are woman, severely virtuous
who argue that the love, which is il
any way dependent upon such accidents
as the handiwork Of dressmaker, tn
milliner, and the shoemaker, is Of yer.
little worth. They know that there arr
better things than dress, and qualitie
more estimable than skill in attiring an
adorning ones self. They are con
s:ious Of being virtuous wives, excellen
mothers, good economists, perhaps piou
sisters and charitable neighbors. An
they argue, that these are essentials 70
which thoy ought to be appreciated b
, their husbands. 1t may appear yer
shocking 10 say so, but we do say tha
the woman who takes this "hish ground
is lost. Her domestic happiness is sur
to be wrecked. A man is not necess
arily triaer who thinks that his wife
virtues are none the worse for set {
, comely apparel. The greatest Of ou
philosophic poets speaks Of "deligt
in little things" with feelings the vef
reverse Of contempt. We cannot b
always on the stills. Men are Of
f mixed nature. They are not all goo
or all bad, all great or all little.
q does not follow that they are incaPabl
Q Of lofty aspirations, because they hav
appetites and inclinations to whic
austere virtue may apply another ep
@ thet.
!. We may, perhaps, be accused Of tai
:. ing a very low view Of domestic obllg'
g tions and matrimonial duties, when '
say that it is one Of wife's first duti
to appear attractive in the eyes Of h
ri husband. But rightly considered, tn
n obligation lies at the very root OF conn
d bal contract. We think we do not undt
5, rate the case when we say that settil
1t apalt those unhappy connections viii
s, are formed from mere mercenary mollv
4. in nine cases out Of ten men choo
is wives on account Of something that in
1. estimation, or that at the time OF choc
{. ing he fancies to be, personally attra
h. tive in the object Of his choice. y m
,e not be apparent to others, but it pleas
id him. He marries indeed Tor the sake
er the "d9mus ct placeas uror." He dc
n. not take a woman to his hearth becat
she is philosopher, or an arithme,ici'
ne but because, in homely language. tn
he is something nice about her." 1t W
s. doubtless, the design Of the Almish
in in giving man helpmate that she sho'
oil satisfy his natural craving after
n. beautiful, the graceful and the gentle
gs For this was woman formed--
es "For softness she and sweet attractive grac
'n The woman who forgets this, igno
as as ono Of the great objects Of her creati
% The wife who forgets this. violates
We We Of the primal conditions Of his c
VI nubial contract.
Ill Nfnna1 RAA mfV