Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-01-29
PLYMOUTH, THURSDAY, JANUARY 99 1852

humber circumstances. In fact they ought
to take the lead, because they can do it
with less injury to their position in society
than others. They can inaugurate the
needed reformation if they will.
There is one point in which reformation
is specially needed in this country, and
that is the style of dress in our churches.
We need not adduce reasons to prove that
the house of Gods no place for display and
yet it is often made such, even by those
protesting to be christians. There the rich
and the poor should meet upon a common
platform.
A dress that would be perfectly proper
on festive occasion, would be wholly i'm
proper and out of place in church. This
distinction seems 10 be lost sight of by not
few who ought to know better. It is Of
ten commented upon aud disapproved by
travrlees. The noblest ladies of England
and the continent, are always plainly dress
ed in church. To dress otherwise is con-
sidered by them as not only wrong, but
vulgar. We wish it could be brought to
be so considered in this country
After the above had been put in type,
we met with the following in the Christian
Register, which, by way OF confirmation,
we annex:
An ingenious writer in the Register ov-
er the signature of III. s. g" undertakes
to show that, instead of extrayagance in
women, it is the speculations of the mer
that rnil the world The sins of men are
many and large, and am quite willing tc
have the lash applied as severely rs is de-
served. But it viii take a good deal o.
dust thrown into the eyes of mankind, tc
hide the sorrowful sight of the present rage
of extravaganza among the women of this
country. Nearly all see and acknowledge
it with sorrow and alarm.
Voyages are taken to Europe by whole
families. Nearly ten millions of dollar:
are estimated to be spent in Europe by
Americans, annually. for expenses alone
Fashions and extravaganza are the ordel
of the day. 1t has been cal ried to such ar
extent in Belgium, and a few other places
the ladies themselves have became alarm
ed, and have adopted societies and meeting,
to check it, and seeing the discouragins
effect 1t has had on all young men, deer
ring them from marriage.
Some men are spectators, forgers, swim
dlers. dishonest, but nany more are not so
but are hard working, prudent citizens; anc
express themselves with sorrow at tbe Gus
toms Of the day, with the universal chow
1 it be remedied?" Our country is constant
y drained Of its specie by hund eds o
millions annually, and mostly for gewgaw.
of unnecessary aud immoral extra vagance
81, 900 shawls, 500 bonnets, SlOO silks
to sweep the streets with, aaces to match !.
What is the effect? Mrs. A. and Mrs. B
make out to do it. Mrs. c. in the same So
ciety, has not the money. but goads up hel
good spouse to make the raise who tries
his wits; and so the strife goes on through
many grades of enterprise and of people;
and when this beautiful country tumbles
down, verify believe their unprincipled
extravaganza will be one of the means of its
fall.
One case out of many will relate. A
year ago friend of mine, an amiable, good
fellow. had for many years a wife who
woald hear of nothing but style and extiav-
agance. His income would not meet It.
His expostulations had no other effect than
to make war. So he done to the last, fail
ed. And even then she would not let hel
children go to town school, when he could
not earn money enough to buy bread. He
died broken hearted Many one is ground
into dust in ;his way.
Who can arrest such a career? The up
per classes have not the patriotism to do it;
The other cannot. Can society do it? II
SO, let US have one.