Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-01-21
For the Spirit ofthe Age.
GENTILTTY':
OR THE FALSE ESTIMATES OF FASHION.
BY " ALPHA"

OK THE FALSE ESTIMATES OF FASHION.
BY ALPHA
Oh s! common sense, would thou wouldst
breathe on Fashion.
sometimes do; but womand does not like it.o
Especially in Towns and Cities. there is
always false estimate placed upon Gen
tllity. Observe that young lady who dress
es three times day, or at least, whenever
she appears in company--upon the suppo-
stion that gentility consists in dress, and
you will find that she has not estimated
gentility by true sCorth, but by Fashion.
She dlsdalns to appear fond to see an init
mate acquaintance or relative, thinks her
self ungenteel should she visit friend too
early, and believes she has broken the col
den rule Of Etiquette, should she be com
PEELED to rise before Sol has gilded the cas-
tern horizon with his golden rays. AS
Night lets fall her sable mantle, and the
mild rays of Luna are streaming through
the window upon her couch, she meditafes
upon some new fashion II rule By which
Z !. 81 :. <sISS:
not of wealth IS not e'af $50 nep r & 81
Because it is the Fashion lie may be
man of the most refined feelings and man
ners, and possessed of a generous and no.
bic heart, yet if he is not rich, he is not
considered worthy of her company! Away
with such tomfoolery.
What pity! that amid all the boasted
intelligence of the nineteenth century.
Mammon should hold such universal sway
over the minds of man ! Riches regarded
test of merit, and person passed under
rated and unrespected, because he is not
rich !!
Young lady, did you but know the secret
thoughts of the noble, generous and benef-
cent admirers of the fair daughters Of our
land, you would not despise to rise soon
upon cool spring morning, and listen to
the choir of aerial songsters, chanting songs
of praise to the King of day, as he begins
to peep over the hills from the eastern hori-
zon. You not only set false estimate
upon the characters of the young gentle
men of our country, but you bring degra-
dation and ruin upon yourself! How Of
ten, by false estimation of true character,
has your sex been decoyed into the snares
of the most worthless wretches, who have
caused humanity to shrek aloud. and give
warning to you,7 but ais! you needed not;
and now you are heart-broken, tho Mother
Of half-starved children, and the Wife of a
drunkard.
But we can pay compliment to the
better part Of the Ladies'; they do not, as
the gentlemen, judge geatility in this man
ner.
A young gentleman, or mani will not
say gentleman-visits public gathering
Of ladies and gentlemen. He spies out q
lady dressed very finely, and determines to
find her out and he accordingly makes
the following inquiry. What lady is
that who is dressed SO finely across yonder
Is she rich !? Where does she i've ??n2-
After being informed to his great satisfac-
tion, that she is all he desires, he makes
the following remarks,-ssI have been at
tracted very much by her lady like appear
ance ever since I first beheld her; she
looks so genteel, her dress is SO neat and
fashionable, and she is so richly ornamen
ted Can you give me an introduction to
her 2"
Not once does he inquire of the neral
worth of the lady with whom he would
now entrust the destinies of his happiness
or misery upon this earth and to whom,
he would necessarily subject, 10 a limited
sense, his eternal felicity or wee! Young
man, you need not deny the facts above
stated; facts are stubborn things to rule
ssTruth, crushed to earth, viii rise again;
The eternal years of God are hers"
Would that we could clear portion of
the young men of this charge but we
have brought it upon ourselves, and have
been convicted of it. We must, therefore.
change our ideas of trae gentilitS and
then the ladies will undoubtedly clear rs
lof it.
| O.! treacherous, cold hearted, money
loving world, how long shall such human
depravity be found in our midst7 How
long shall men bow at the shrine of Nam.
mou How long shall merit 90 unrevar
ded virtue unappreciaIed !; loseliness nm
loved; friendship uncultivated iinnocenc,