The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-10-23
Dress.

Nothing shows the character Of IN indi.
vldual more than the dress. What q lady
wears, and how she wears it, the material.
hi, and suitability to the OCCASION, Of her
dress, are generally good critcrions TO her
habits Of thought and action. TO close
observer, the purity and refinement Of her
nature can he ,lclcs.i l,y certain Indications
in the selection and arrangement of the
| external adornment of her person. True
| refinement, that which springs from native
modesty, tl.licacy Of thought and feeling
that from intuition becomes a habit, is dis.
cernible rs much in the ncatness and adius.
tation of n color, the hue of ribbon, as in
any word that may he uttered or act that
may be performed. The observances of
fashion, it is true, demand to n grcatcr or
less extent certain style of dress for all
who follow its dictates; and fashionable
dressed ladies, to be in the fashion, must an.
pear III the rustic OF gown, mantle, hat, and
all the minor ct ccteras that shall have the
freshness of newncss 10 recommend them !:
and they are, therefore, so far as cleanliness
goes, uu1ucs,ionably neat But ma,k how
! the dress is arranged, and now its colors are
chosen, if YOU would ascertain whether the
mind is IN ill-assorled or an harmonious
one; and above all, take occasion to note
how the lady dresses in her own home,
when off her guard, with nobody hut her
husband" to see her.
One of the greatest physiological obser-
ve's Of any age, Lavater, paid particular
heed to all outward habits as tile true in
| liccs Of the inner life. 1t WAS remark Of
his. that all persons, male or female, who
manifested an labitual attention to nicely
of dress, displayed the same neatness in
their domestic affairs, declaring that "young
wc,ncn who neglect thciTtoiette, and mani
fest little concern about their apparel, inli.
cate in this very particular disregard OF
order, mind but little adapted to the
details Of housekeeping, deficiency Of
t"ste and Of the qualifications that inspire
love. Tie girl Of eighteen who deairca not
| to please will bc slut and sllrow at TWEEN.
five" 81, . .,y- s, ..trH
Those young girls who imagine that they
as soon as they have achieved husband
can throw off all care about their dress
keeping their show garments only for com
pany, aud pitching on their untidy persons
any cast-otl duds in their own home, make
a great mis!ake-the one great mistake o.
their lives. They need not marvel why it Is
their husbands prefer the society they NEE,
ut clubs, or the society Of other women, j,
may be, TO tIreir own. They need not won
der at their husbands late hours or unsteatl,
habits. No man, however much he may
love the carefully dressed girl lie courted
will tolerate after marriage n slattern one
who keeps all her fine clothes and fin,
smiles for others. A we'll known autllo
tells his fair readers with emphatic JUNCTION
that "it is one Of the moral duties Of ever,
married woman alwnys to appear we'll dress
ed in the presence Of her husband" "
To be well dressed need not imply an ex
pensive dress. A simple, neatly. fitted rob
of muslin or calico, ii tastefully made An,
tastefully selected as to harmony 81 scoloi
shows lie purity apd true refinement Of II,
, wearer's mind more effectualy than Il,
the most eIaborately expensive attire tha
the ingenuity Of modern millinery can de
wise. - -
!. The. suitability 10 occasionv Of dses
Eaisp what should be studied. "A ssimpt
quiet, unostentatious dsass is adapted TO :
J occasions, kc home Oh abroad; wlsila !;
{ tshowH co1spioaons dress can b. vofnsHit
! iInpunity in very 5swx places, and ~ vss
ii few persona S Uitf1gsiti ssefnjng y6frnsiv
I !. md! dsctd rs q Be- IssS sedalatjn
I'll dress sfs really dtsif$ q Scis Slad IS @ss
81 skould beS %: conaid tkohgE tes t1s6,
1 2tpoese6ling lthes flt Gtn1i
fkings, 81. .lhy . tSi5s itil
~ kss,S q .Sssss