The Winchester home journal. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-11-28
Letter from Miss sTenlale.'
Mr.. EDIToR: ~

that you did not publish my letter, and i
lis not yet in type, would ask you t,
leave it out entirely, and publish this il
lieu, as desire to make it answer tn,
double purpose of both a communication
and an answer to the letters of Messrs
"Masculus" and "Moris Memory"
will not say that did not expect to sec
an answer to my remarks, for knew that
they would be apt 10 elicit attention from
those especially to whom they were ap
plicablo
Now know nothing Of Messrs. Mas
culus and Morris Memory, but suppose
them to be young men residing in Win.
chester. Mr.. Masculus commences his
retort with caption that needs but to be
seen to be attractive. He calls me "a
spunky female Now, what he exactly
means by calling me spunhy, | am at a
loss to know. believe the literal mean
ing of the word is sp0nSey--the vulgar
meaning, inhamablc temper. Now, am
the best.natured person that can be found
in nine cases out Of ten. and for further
satisfaction, aud in order to answer his
indirect question, would state that Miss
Female lives, moves and has her being
among the good people of Winchester,
and is Il regular attendant at ore of the
churches Sheis Of medium size, and is
over ten, yet not beyond ten plus twenty.
That, | hope, is explicit enough,
Masculus says that the young men
would like to know why we dear crea.
tures' exercise so much pains in propar.
ing to entertain The beaux,' while we 60
among our own sex without seeming to
care how we look. Well, my good sir,
that shows our regard and respect for the
'Other Sex and we woull feel quite
grateful if you would appreciate it better.
Yet, your remarks are not only inorpo.
site, but inconsistent, for you hardly get
done string US for careless appearance
among our own sex, before You accuse us
Of spending all our time on dress, and
all our thoughts on the men, in order TO
make an impression Now, did think
that a man would utter such incongrui |
ties, OF virtually acknowledge that dress
attracts the men. Well, guess that
majority. Of the young men can be won
by the aIluremonts Of gaudy apparel,
yet boldly assert that there are domestic
graces belonging to a large majority Of
the female sex which will ever command
the highest esteem from an enlightened
and Christian community. Woman is
not always to be judged from her appear.
ance on the street, or in the spacious
ballroom At home, she can adorn her.
self with those qualities and accomplish.
ments which will ever render it happy
But isn't it characteristic Of the present
masculine generation to hear Masculus
talk about woman's dress? Oh, of course
he couldn't have written his reply with.
out alluiing to Mat.' Oh, dear me, how
little and gfovelling it is, to be always
imputing extravaganza of dress to wo.
men, as though there were no other sex
guilty Of the same thing! Women and
crinolinc! These are the butt OF ccnsure.
Not a newspaper nor corner lounger
that does not have fling at them. TO
extravaganza in dress with women, the
penny. liner, the garret poet, the circus.
clown, the nice gang men attribute the
present financial crisis, of which nearly
,very one has been talking for the last
month. This will do very well for small
minds, but oh! MasculuS! why art thou
ound tossing your ready cap high in air,
'hd singing tne same old song! Doubt.
oss there are many cases of needless OK.
ravagancc among the young ladies, but
while | admit this, must ask you to
ook at thy own door. While talking to
IS about dress, letme ask you and your
cmrade, Morris, to consider how many
lasses of brandy and fine regaias you
indulge in daily---how much money you
pend in oyster suppers, and mint of
ther dissipations could name-how
nxious you are to be forever clothed in
ne cloth coats, silk vests, and in fact
verything that can be gotten in the way
f dry goods. Now, Masculus, don't try
o heap the follies of which your sex are
i i