Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1855-12-22


LEIGH HuNr on LADIES' FIooPs.-EditorS, oil
late. have been exercising themselves SustIy in
commenting on the hoops so extensively worn III
ladies' skirts. Prentice, for instance, says that he
has been earnestly solicited 10 take Off these inn
mensely hooped Petlicoats.-that he can't take
III, IN OF, but wishes the ladies' wouId. We don't
know that lie has any right to wish any such thing
we don't know that this is subject which par
licularly concerns edltOrs,-belter mind their own
business, we think, and let the ladies mind theirs
AS we have been requested 10 refer to this subject,
we will merely say that we hold the ladies have .
right to be embraced by hoops or most anything
else which suits their taste; they have right to
hoop themselves, especially if they think there is
any danger of exploding, which danger might be
suggested by excess of ponder about theirper
sons. But, dppropOs, here's philosophical and
Artistic view Of the matter, by Leigh Hunt:
Pope assigned lis important charges. and 'wide
ctcumferCnce,' to tw enty of his guardian spirits
in the Rape Of the Lock- besides tie circum-
ventiUnS OF the aSperslons of tea and coli e
''Cremblng, and eorrciOus,or tina rich brOc Le'' =
The hoop is considered to be the most monStrouS
enOrmty that ever made its appearance III the
world Of fashion. We confess we cannot think
SO. We think the notion originates in mistake
IN confusion Of isleaS-and the m0hSlIosity was
CO mined to its minor phaSeS-tO the drum, the gO-
cart, aud the pair of pauni-rE; which last the
form Of 1t that prevoled towards the close OF the
Ieign of George the Third, aud under which il
finally went out IN that OF his son tinr the hoop
lasted good hunLr. d years in Englandj: and even
the pannieES, we think, were by no means al their
worst when they were attheir biggest. For the
philosophy of the matter Ito uSe'O fine modern
phlaSe) We take tn be thiS:--rhe hoop, like any
other habllment, was only ugly, inasmuci as ii
lnteItered with the minIl'S idea of the bOdY'S
shape. Il was ugly, wheni made the hips appear
disiucate0, the bory sw0en,the gait unnatural
in other words, as long as IT suggested
the Ei.a of SOME actual 5leformty, and might
have Geen considered as made to SUIT it,
Butwhen it was large, and the swell Of it hung at
proper distance from the person, 1t became, not
u habltament but an inciuSure. The person stood
aloOf frem it, anil was imagined to dc. The la
ty, like goddess, was half concealed in hemi
sphere, ont of which thu rest OF her person rose,
like Venus out Of the liIIows, When She moved,
aud th= hoop was of proper length, as well MS
breadth, she did moi walk; ter steps were not vi
Slble-she was borne aomg-she was waited
came gliding. So issued The Wortlt Montaguss,
The COventGyS, and the HaTyeys out Of their Sc.
dams, and came radiant with the admiration Of be-
holders, through avenues of them at palace GooIs.
Thus poor Marie Antoinette came, during tile
height of her bloom and asceudancy through mr..
swept along with her th yes and tie reformation
Of Mr.. Burke. Milton IikenS Dalila .Iull dressed
10 a ship in full sail:
'twith allher brayeEyon aud tackle tin,
Sails filled, aud ST: Gamers waving
But DeIilah must have hem dressed afterihe Eas
tern fashion, which was rather drnped than swell
ling, more turbaneG o hooded tLan topped with
ribbons. What would he haveSaid had he seen
his image of the shipenIarged, and maIe'oui after
true naval fashion. by the swelling hnop, the air
catching fan, the solid, mask like stomacher ress
cending tlhe pillar Of the throat, and the 'StTea
meEs waving in the wind,' OF ribbons IT Ia F0n
ting? Imagine squadIonyof them-a dozen sail
OF The line (of beaury)-headsd by Admiral -tthe
Lady Mary, OF ny Lady Harvey, supp1tedGy Cap
tains Mrs. Heweit and Mrs. Murray, or Comman-
dets the DemoissIlcs Bellenden and LepsIl.I They
are ali coming up the great high roadsteat Ct Ken
Sington GaldenS between BayswattI audthe town.
The gentlemen behHIdeEs, dying by hundred intheIr
sToFdS and periwigs, witIItheir halls under theit
:sinS; aud the ladies' Who have not been totouTt
mat day feeling envious Of the slaughter. Their
sa'IS are not mere white orbrOW ;eth are OF ali
lne coIors OF The rainbow, varigated with gold and
Silver; and Pope, who is looking from one of the
Palace windows with DR.. Mead, sees his spirits of
ms Grape of tie Lock- fllipping the Jewels in
tNelt ears TO make them trsmhte in the sun.