The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1857-05-07

Dress and Rowdyism.


Mankind comprise two classes, the rich ard
the poor. The present social system renders this
distinction unavoidable. Whether or not socie
ty could be healthfully formed, without such
classes, shall not stop to determine; for we
must take man as he is in this respect; and,
inasmuch as distinction does exist and ii is
better that these classes should harmonize all
should be desirous that the natural baughtiness
of the one, and the corresponding sensitiveness
Of the other be not increased that thus, the
mutual injury and sorrow of heart which COL
ission causes, may be diminished, if not prevent
ed. These classes differ necessarily in no other
particular, They posses the same intellect,
likes and dislikes, desires, hopes and fears, evil
and good propensiti!s, vices and virtues.--
Besides, they are mutually dependent. How
could the farmer dispose of his surplus products
did not the wealthier banker and merchant create
a demand for them; and from what source
would the lawyer aid the doctor procure the
necossaries Of life, did not the harl-Gstel rustic
supply the city market?
| All sagas have affirmed that "The mind makes
the man." but people in general act as if they
hold that not the ntellect but the apparel con-
stitutes the man, baing created above the
brutes, and but d" a little lower than the angels :
| apPrehand that society is wrong and philoso-
pliers are right in this matter; otherwise pea
cocks and lilies have stronger claim to gentiliy
than man: the former certainly wear better ap-
parel every day than our most fashionable bellies
/ dis MAY n the Ira, a,l to 4, |,
ter Holy Writ asserts that Solomon in all his
glory was not arrayel like one Of these !
freely admit what is sometimes facetiously OBJ
served, that "Though dress does not make the
man, he looks better we'll dressed - but the fact
that one is able TO dress well, should not causs
him to look down upon another who cannot af-
ford the luxury. What deem wrong, is the
sentiment that the proper test of manhood is
satin and broadcloth. l like to see people dress.
not gaudily, but richly, ifthsy can honestly af-
ford ii. But how is it? Here is a community
ten out of hundred, though wealthy, wear
unassumns apparel-thrty, possessed of com
potency, dress rather more rchly-ffty, barely
able to live comfortably and make their ends
meet, wear all they have. to mike a show, and
either subsist from hand to mouth, or constant,
ly drag along, deeply involved in debt the
remaining ten, SO INDECENT as not to be able to
obtain credit, cannot even make arristocratic
pretensions, but gtovel in wretchedness and deg
radiation. Extravagance in dress increases in
the same ratio that ones means diminish
want no better evidence that an individual is
i about to "lail, than sudden change from the
ordinary to the costly in his apparal. Now
ask in all candor, are these things as they should
be? Alas! how many ruin themselves by aping
the extravagant practices olothrrs.
But this is by no means the only bad effect o
the sentiment that dress makes the person.
believe it to be the principal cause of rowdyism
/ This may seem singular opinion, bat think
can show that it is true. The natural conse
quence Of fine raiment being the standard o
i gen'lIiy is snperciliousneSs on the part of the
tashionably dressed, towards those that are clat
J IN meaner apparal. have often seen memb4r:
of the Goldfish arlstocracy affect not to know
their less richly dressed neghbJrs, when acci
dentally meeting them in some city, while tn,
same time, the latter were really more wealth,
than the former. AS an instance, certain
. person, would be aristocrat, wished to 90 to ,
neighboriug place OF business. He could hav,
taken the cars, aud thus have had more time tt
attend to the object for which he wished to 90
! but he chose to ride with near naghbor, on
load ofhay which the latter was taking to mar
ket When nenr the place, he dism)uated care
n fully brushed the straws and dust from his Goa,
+ pulled down his vest drew on his rather dilapi
dated gloves, st his not very glossy hat NOR
p jauntily, twirled his cane and minced into town
d liso happened that the farmer drove up an
hitched his large, fat, sleek team near where hi
quanaam companion stood engaged in conver
sation with "a pSeulo grandee. 1t was abou
dinner time, (time to dine, would be less coun
tryled,) but the farmer received NJ invitation
nor was he even introduced to the city nabob =
However, he was more than amply avenged, 70
n { just as the two were about to disappear throug
the front door of splendid mansion, (rente
though,) he sings out JOB, job" The seed
man turned and, lifting his hand menacinsly. HI