Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-04-30
For the Yorkville Enquirer.
WOMEN VS.. DRESS.

WOMEN VS.. DRESS.
The Press is not only the guardian Of political
rights and the rebuker of all lapsss gainst bonos
mores, but it is likewise the arbiter elegantdrno
which the interests of woman is entrusted for pro-
lection; and it is false to its trust, when it neg
lects to promote her welfare or shrinks from her
defence since she has ever been the strongest ad-
vocate of the ''freedom of the press." But too
often is that column appropriated to political
squabbles or clouds of advertisements, which, in
every well-organized paper, should be set aside
for her special information or amusement. Why
noed we be surprised, that after being fed on the
food Of men, she should sometimes prove to men-y
(many) for the luckless husband or the il-starred
lover? We do not mean, Messrs. Editors, to re-
feet upon the ENQUIRER for its neglect in this res
pect, for the remark is equally applicable to all
our Southern Journals, and besides, We know that
you have "warm side" for the ''poetry of life"
ns woman has been appropriately termed. Why
should men know their rights and woman be kept
in ignorance of hers This was the eete theory Of
fogydom; but in the dawn Of Q new era, it is to
be hoped that her rights will be considered of
more Importance, and when ddly weighed, they
will not be found to conflict With the immunities
of the Lords of Creation" There is one right
which the most churlish, hardshell bachelor, that
ever smoked his pipe in selfish felicity, will scarce
ly dare deny her-the right Of knowing the true
object and the gross perversions Of dress.
Fair readers, we belong neither to that sect of
Cynics who sneer at everything; nor to the mod
ern school of utlitarians which estimates the val
ne of everything, from garden of roses or q
pretty lady, down to pea patch sweet-potatoe,
by the same infexible, dollar and cent, cui bono
rule. All extremes are wrong-in philosophy, in
love, in hate, in the length of coat-tails or, in
sorbicular rotundities." We do not wish to dis
paragc taste and elegant neatness-among the
sweetest attractions Of 'thome-sweet home."-
But we have long thought that something might
be done by the ladies, which would contribute
incalculably to the happiness Of man, and partic-
ularly to that much derided class-the confirmed
bachelors We do not neon, however, those who
are bachelors because they are naturally heart
less, or because they so extremely modest that
they are afraid of being hoped; for such there
is no "balm in .Gilead." But the bachelors that
we pity, are those jovial, good fellows, who are
fond of the ladies; who appreciate the humani-
ling md elevating influence of her society, but
whose limited fortune will not support all the lux
uries of fashionable life. Poor fellows 1t is from
their high appreciation Of woman, that they
shrink from the idea of marrying, unless they
could crafty all her foibles. Thus they reason
with themselves: "There is Miss Finetta, could
she only be content with neat little cottage, a
few flowers, few books, the life-devotion Of one
true heart-if I was certain she would not pine
for the sumptuous paraphernalia Of Mrs. So-and-
So, would willingly place what little possess
on her shrine. But with all her natural attrae-
tions and natural good sense, she has never been
taught to look through the gilded exterior Of life
at its realities, to value the kingdom of the heart
properly; to build her hopes Of happiness upon
more permanent basis than the frivolities Of fash
ion to feel that life is real, life is earnest" and
what if at this late day, these errors have become
too deeply implanted to be uprooted?" With
such melancholy reflections he turns to his soli-
tary tenement, lights his cigar, and enjoys de-
lghtful reverie of what might be his felicity, could
he only find an earnest, lovable woman. At last
his "Havana" is consumed, the smoke rolls away,
and so vanishes his pleasant dreams, for he looks
in vain for his beau ideal.
Such, fair readers, is the innocent, bon homie
creature, that you have been accustomedt to regard
as .'hard case" Your kind-hearted, match-ma-
king mother, who can't see clearly through her
spectacles, has given you false impression of
large portion of my brother bachelors. Some Of
them are hard cases we admit some of them, like
some old maids we haveseen, have no Jellor feel
ing in their bosoms; they are the blissess, kiss
less automatons placed in our midst, to remind US
how peculiarly favored we are, and how thankful
we should be that we have living souls But such,
we affirm, is not the case with large portion Of
the single un-blessed They have warm hearts,
and, fair readers though you may have no desire
to marry, take pity their illstarred condition,
and make them feel that you are living, earnest
women, and that jewelry, hoops, "abominable tit
tle-tattle" las that brute Byron would say is not
the ne plu, ultra of their halcyon dreams. Think
for yourself moment and try and solve this
knotty problem-which is most important, the
dress or the woman? If the former, why contin
ue as heretofore, to give it your entire attention.
but if the latter, then let the former be snbordi-
nate consideration. What will become Of the DO
etry, the delicate moroccan Of aatterS and love
which the lover once poured into thy greedy ears,
s'beneath the hawthorne shade that scents the
evening gale" if extravsgance in dress contin.
ues to increase, and steel 'amplifcations render
you "tsrrible Is an army With baunsrs." But