The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-04-15
FEMALE EXTRAvAGANCE.

This is hard subject for us 10 touch upon,
especially with word of laull-tinding. Awo-
man does look so prelly when we'll dressed, !,
that, unit! some startling developments have
rendered it imperative, we have RETAINED
from saying word against the extravagant
outlays that are now made ior female dress.
We think that we do not "stretch the truth"
in stating that The dress of woman coasts two
dollars now where ii did one, ten years ago.
II is now silk everywhere, or an expensive
fabric of wool and cotton IS universally at n
discount. The shop girl stands in silk be-
hind the counter; and as the shop girl wears
the dress that tho fashionable woman did
ten years ago, the latter is obliged TO adopt a
fabric Of moro costly character, so that
VIII ere The dollar silk was once good enough,
the heavy three dollar morc antique will
alone suffice. Ten TO twenty dollars is now
paid Tor hat where five and ten dollars
were once considered extravsgant. 1t is that
in every department of the female Dress
This tendency TO over.dress was once con-
sidered an American vulgarily, but there is
no lack Of exlravagance abroad now, and
societies have already been formed in Eu-
ropean continental cities for its suppression.
The singular fact has been pretty widely
published, that in Boston, during the past
year, the number Of marriages has been re-
dnced 20 per cent. from the previous year.
Nnw ho ppt tho cfi,,htnot In,,bt
this fact grows ont OF the conscious inability
Of young men, starting in life and business,
TO support wives in manner consonant
with the present acquisitions of social life
Girls must keep house, and keep il in style,
or they must board in u costly boarding
house, aud dress in manner corresponding
10 that entertained by the daughters of the
millionaire. There is no more of the occu-
patton of the humble room OF frst-no more
OF the self-denial by which the wife becomes
the sharer of The young husbands poverty
and slruggles-no more of that adaptation
Of life 10 circumstances, by which the wife
grows up with The husband into fortune
but marriage must now at once bring all the
advantages and oil the show of fortune, or it
may not be INDUCED in. In other words,
marriage has become a costly and rare lux
ury, 10 be had only for money, and not that
natural and unre.triced connection OF loves
and lives which is necessary TO The happi-
ness of both men aud woman, and essential
10 the purity and progress OF society.
This puts serious face upon the matter !;
a very serious face. In the history of every
--.i-- .l--y"-,-I---- 49, -r---.-I % h.- =,
marriage OF the sexes has been the nurse ol
vice. man who has really made up his
mind that no cannot afford TO be married,
and that he must lay aside all hope OF it, for
years, al least, is in dangerous posi,ion-
He has lost some of the most powerful re-
slraints from vice that have ever Influenced
him and, while he adopts course that un-
fits him FOR the pure pleasures of home and
connubial life, the "ungaIhered roses" still
cling 10 the "ancestraI tree" and withcr
where they hang. However much men
may feel the cost of woman's exirayagance,
and however little they can afford it, woman
feels II still more, ant can afford it still less.
The general idea of living is altogether
above the mark Of Christian prudence, OF
sound social policy. The prudent reduction
Of the cost Of living indirectly increases The
prosperity of business. Men complain that
they cannot make money, and yet they earn
money enough. Five hundred dollars saved
from an annual expenditure of $4,000 is a
snug little sum 10 lay up every year, and
there are few families expending this sum,
who would not be just as well of, nay, bet
ter of, with the reduction. We would by
no means exempt men from The charge of
extravaganza; but we do not think their ex.
penses have been increased in the degree OF
those Of their wives and daughters. II is
hard denying women anything, but ii they
are true women, they will ask nothing un-
reasonable.