Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-10-30
TERMS OF ADvERTIsING.
A Word to American Ladies.

We quote this sensible appeal to the women of Amer
lea from the columns of one Of best contemporaries
We are in the midst of great financial pressure
Banks are breaking merchants failing and odestablsh
ed firms suspendng every side Onr fathers broth
ers and husbands come home from Wall street and
Broadway with perpexed blows and doubtful faces and
eye our housekeeping and shopping bills with anything
but an approving glance Economize-saye-retre
is the watchwOrd of the hour
And it is our place, women to set the example of
reform in this matter There no country in the world
where much respect is accorded to women and where
her social position is exalted in the United States
In all the records of the days of rdcros knights and
Oden tournaments there is such beautiful example of
chvay we have recently behed in the sad shipwreck
of the Central America In country where women is
held in such estimation as this ought she to shrink
from any sacrifice necessary to maintain the standard?
But the reckless extravaganza and empty fivoty of
the modern fine lady constitute the surest mode of losing
this high national position. Look at the fashionable
women of 1857! She wears q silk robe which cost
hundred dollars her love of fall hat was cheap at
fifty and she sports set of HOntOns at seventy-fve-
She carries small fortune round her wrists dangling at
her throat and soene her fingers in the shape of
crosses rings, and bracelets She buys all the foolish
trnkets and extravagant tres which happen to catch
her eye in the shop windows and caps the climax by
going into Mysteries when her husband hints at rerench
ment? Is this the beaudeal of woman?
Our Streets bathrooms, and places of public resort
are crowded with these walking advertisements general
emulation to prevail to which shall sport the
most expensive silks and richest ewery, and the
more sensible and prudent who have not moral courage
to declare independence drawn into the vortex of
extravaganza. Nay our very churches have become
nothing than ShOw-rooms for the last new bonnet
and the latest mOreantque of the fashionable worship
erS.
We firmly believe that many of the failures in the
mercantile world are entirely owing to the reckessness
of woman, and the amount of misery, suicide, and dis
tres for which she is thus indirectly called upon to an
swer, is perfectly incalculable. A man will endure al
most any degree of embarrassment before he will consent
that his wife shall deny herself accustomed luxury,
be exposed to the rdicule Of her particular
clique.
" Now it is your plain and simple duty, ladies of
America, to stand up by your husbands Sides and help
them to bear the heavy pressure of this great
cal crisis 1t is OF no use to sit up in your elegant
budor, claspmg your jeWeed hands together, and be-
moaning your incapacity to act. Help to institute
reform in the dress question: and your husband will have
some substantial proof of your sympathy and affection.
Lay aside your costly velvet and brocadesdeny YOUR
self that coveted winter bonnet-turn your back reso
lutely upon every extravaganza \ true woman never
looks loveer than when arrayed III simple calico
gingham dress, and straw bonnet worth seveny-fve
cents. What if the Mrs Potiphars Of your acquain-
tance pass by you with avered eyes! haven't you the
moral courage to value their friendship at its proper
worth? We respect the woman who in these hard
times, dare appear in public dressed in the expensive
rainment.
Oh for the good old times when one best silk dress
was the standby for years All that we need is some
fair leader of the beaumonde to take the helm and steer
ship with calico SAILS! The present time is excel
lent opportunity for the experiment and quite
that the wise and sensible of the world will gladly well
come the event of dress REFORM