Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-10-27
MISCELLANEOUS.
CALEB CUSHING ON CRINOLINE AND
HARD TIMES.

In Fspeuil Hall, ON the l4th inst, e1. Attorney &C.
neral Gushing delivered an address before the Massa
ohusetts Charitable Mechanics Association, III refer
epce 10 the sentiment:-"Our Country-Glorlous for
its science, glorious for its arts, and still more glo'
rious for its public men," In the course Of his speech,
Mr.. Gushing said:
doubt at any rate in the breadth OF its ordinary
statement. the truth of the current doctrine OF as
sumed profusion of living as the evil OF the times, or
contracted retrencbment as its remedy. 1 think 0oth
the evil itself, and its remedy, lie deeper IN other
causes and acts, which it would be out OF place 10 Ut
tempt TO unfold here at the festive board.
For example, it is quite common to assali the Ia
dies, and TO ridicule and reproach their taste oil dress,
personal ornament, and custom OF lite, "a one OF the
responsible causes Of the present commercial crisis.
| utterly deny this. l would like to break a lance
with auv gentleman in that quarrel. L will go fur
Their. and run The risk of paradox, IN saying That III
nv Judgment the prevailing costume 10 NOT only
graceful, but, relatively TO other fashions which nave
preceded it, convenient, aud therefore %lustitied oy
considerations of utility as we'll as beauty. Apart
from that, | confess l have been amused tn observe
how much Of undue Importance, IN the great sum OF
our wealth, industry and commerce, mas been attri'
buted 10 the extra founces and turbeiows Of the Ia
dies. IL il in truth a matter which enters for a mere
begatelle into the complex question nt imports and
exports. and that ia all. Did the silks worn by the
ladies' produce the failure Of the Ohio Lille and Irast
Compapyl Did their superfluous laces and musllns
break down the Illinois Central Kali Road! Did the
volumiuous skirts stop the wheels OF the Erie Kali
Roadl Was it q fancy Of theirs for cakes and sweet
meats, which raised up, or pulled down, The specula'
tive prices of sugar and -four in the United Statesi-
Was it their kid gloves and l%illiputian bonnets and
slippers, which occssioned the embarrassment OF the
great dry goods commission houses Of Boston, AND
the suspension Of the banks of Philadelphia aud
New York; Absurd
I confess it shames me. az q man, to hear so much
said of the profusen.ss of the ladies, in view OF oui
own way OF life. Most assuredly Mr.. Fitz Frivol
with his champagne, his cigars, his fast horses, hi;
yachts aud his other fancy pastimes, has no right t
complain of the fine robes, the broidered kerchiel!
and The bJon.erie of Miss Flora McFlimsey; she will
discover that she is in want of nothing to wear quite
as soon as he will find any thing useful to do ioi
even she has a warm woman's heart beneath all tbs
point lace and MORE antique IN whose mysteriou:
volume her fair form is draped; and if he did but know
how 10 reach that heart, he won!d see her as promp
TO please by frugality as by luxury, and proud Il
make any sacrifice Of fashion at the voice Of duty
and Of love.
But all the fonies Of all the Fitz Frivols and Flort
McFlimseys in the land are as nothing, in effect, OF
the financial condition of the United States, compared
l will not say with a war III the Crimea or in India
for that We do not and cannot have-butas compared
with a few cents per pound or yard OF rise or tall II
the price of the cotton of Carolina, tho corn anc
wheat Of Illinois. or the freigh.s and manufactures o
Massachusetts; and their fonies have had no appre
cisble influence in producing the actual breakdown
of the credit system of the United States.
AT such q time as this, at any rate, when 40 MANI
thousands of industrious men and women in Massachu
setts are deprived of occupation and of means of sup
port, 0y the curtailment or suspension Of work iu tn.
CREST manufactures of the State. although for then
retrenchment is a necessity M well AZ duty, yet it il
no. so for those who, will, wealth, possess assured
means OF subsistence. Why should they retrench
when every article they consume is of diminished
price7 1t would be especially unwise for them to d.
go, at a time when every item of personal expenditure
which they may cut off will but serve to aggrsvatt
the evils, by contributing to impede the circulation o.
money, by increasing the euperabundance of unem'
ployed labor, aud by multiplying the causes Of pow
erty and crime, and in the long run subject them te
larger expenditures of almsgiving and taxation.
At a time like this, in France, for instance. there
would be succor to labor by great public works o.
the Government, such az the addition of a new quad
rargls to tie Louvre or the Tuileries. We cannot il
this way combat the effects of q structure, as it is call
ed. in the money market. But we can, go far as We
possess the means, continue our accustomed train Of
life; persevere in well devised and we'll directed Ell
~terprises; keep, 80 far as possible, our ships and our
looms in action ; preserve, unmoved, the great land
marks Of our industrial prosperity; and stand ready
TO start anew, when proper time comes, as come il
soon must, all the great movements of production
and of throughout the Commonwealth.