The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-09-03
Gales .aa6 Skettbes,
tFrom the Waverley Magazine.
FASHION.


never arrest. She presides over ever
department of civilized life, ruling witt
, fckleness and tyranny that would d.
credit the barbarisms of a Pagan age
A book in these fashionabel times whicl
does not contain the costumes is th
most unpopular of all books. Conse
quently, in every magazine and period
ical, which issues from the press, tn
fashions are discussed in full, and all
other literature must give place to tha
which will best please and inform the
mass ofreaders. Upon the title page
We find" Unrivalled colored fashions
Paris fashions Americanized-Ga
setts at fashion, &c. And in the edi.
tors table, /. Discussion of Fashion plates
-Chit-chat upon the fashions"-and
many more too numerous to mention,
and all horribly tedious, from the repe-
tition o. the word " Fashion"
In looking around modern ball
p room, what different scene presents
itself from that which might have been
observed fifty, or even a score of years
ago. What novelties cali airy form, u
in gossamer robes, with arms and neck
exposed, bear very little resemblance to
the stout lasses who "chased TIE rosy
hours on flying feet" twenty years ago.
Then it was deemed lady-like to protect
oneself from the cold, and common sense
dictated and arranged the style of dress; ;
but now, when the thermometer ranges
from ten to twenty-four degrees below
zero, it is the height of absurdity to
wear anything thicker than g tissue, aid
the lady who would venture into the
ballroom with neck and limbs prof erly
clad, would unavoidably be the Obscrv.
ed and criticized of all.
Our ancestors, in their goings forth,
rsrc shoes; but now they have become
obsolete, being voted, by upper tendon,
.. BORE and In their stead, Ia! cert in
little delicate structures scarcely thick
er than paper-beantiful little things
Into which the foot is pressed !' g la
Chinese BELLE But lady will say SHE
saruot walk Lightly, or step gracefully
with anything thicker than single-sol
cd slipper. We do net like to doubt
her assertion; we will only refer to her
mother, pow nearly ffty years of age
Her eye is still bright, aud the bloom
is still upon her check, while size, the
daughter, scarcely twenty, just iu the
bloom of life, with languid eye aud a
false bloom upon her check, move list
lessly around, exciting pity rather than
admiration. Slowly but surely fashions
breath Is wearing away her youag life.
late hours, exposure by wearing thin
shoes in damp weather, and false excite
ment are sapping the life tree.
Twenty years ago bonnets were worn.
What the times these, too, have degen-
Grated, until they are merely caps for
the knot of the hair, not intented at all
to cover the face. The sun, however,
can do but little harm thong b an aPPli-
cation of ronge, so thick as to be alu. ost
impervious to it's rays. Yes bonnets
were once of such respectable size
that q market basket would have an
swered the same purpose-now an in
verted tulip would do as well. If they
do not soon begin to enlarge there will
be danger of seeing our ladies promena-
ding the streets with a wreath of roses
on the back of their heads and carrying
Q snnfoBer for q parasol.
A modern lady of fashion is made up
entirely of dress; and even republi-
can American, 1--WE blush to tell it) must
have wealthy parentage to recommend
her to society. However bright may
be the Jewel of mind hid under the sand |
hills of poverty, she is neglected. but
If she is rich, lack of mind is overlooked,
and she is sought for and carressed by the
butterflies of fashion until vanity is rails
ed to it's highest pitch, and she believes
herself to be all their heartless Aattery
has said.
A lady of these times is expected to
have nerves. What are they? Some
thing in her delicate organization which
causes her to start at every sound and
cling to her companion in prettily
feigned terror. 1t is spretty and lady
like to faint; but to give it effect it
must be done gracefully, and then it |
Bih be very likely to cause sensation
among the gentlemen-and she will no
doubt be enviyed by the ladies,
The modern lady street walker is a |
moving automatoD, With sweeping skirts,
hoops of such size rs 80 occupy the
entire pavement, boDuet on shoulders,
and head thrown back "a la'' duck
cstehipg rain.
Z The good danes of olden time with a
modesty shrinking from the too frequent
glances of the san--or SONS, would gaze
in amazement at one of those figures ap-
preaching them, and would doubtless
step back in alarm. But these are fast
times; We have fast people in them