The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-11-02

Gan Cushing in a late speech, has CALAMITY
maintained that the ladies are not at all responsible
for the present financial revulsion. The New York
Herald takes the other side of the question, and
declares that nearly all the lades,-we suggest to
him to speak of his section, for it is not true
of Southern lades-who have money or credit or
could obtain either, have been for several years
shamefllly extravagant-that they are almost en-
tirely responsible for the excessive imports OF ar
ticles of luxury, which imports have drained our
specie reserve and loaded down our warehouses
with articles which of earthly use, and that
they arc even now spending too much money for
articles which they do not need, but which they
buy simply on account of decline in price.
The Herald then proceeds to substantiate its
charges by figures. 1t says:-"The total value of
the imports for the fiscal year ending June 80 1885,
was 1914 s3a942 of which, for articles of luxury
consumed by women, have spent S43,624, Dos
Forty-three millions of dolars That is equal to
the whole product of the gold mines in California
for one year, aud that would have more than SUI
feed TO have saved US from the crisis OF this
SSl2lST66 were paid for silks and manufactures of
silks: S6376.S53 for iaces and embroidereS shaw.,
s252977l gloves Sl,34t550; furs, $S6l,73l; jewell
ry sS4l $50; silk and worsted piece goods, 81 1885,.
2f1 We expended two millions more for silk than
for SUGAR and so on. We have omitted many
items which would tell against the women. as it
NAV be urged that men consume portion of the
articles above enumerated. The articles omitted
bijouteris, artificial flowers, French shoes and
boots fancy articles, and the thousand and one
fripperies that make up that wonderful mystery, a
fashionable woman's attire-would more than ba
lance the account There is little item of Gao
on for perfumed soap, which is quite good inder
~ rho whole thing. Again, il must be rememb.r
aEap from, IL
ranorts. and that the articles valued at some
thing under the wholesale rate, while our fair
couptrywomen are charged upon all such matters
"a laces at least one hundred per cent. profit A
act of laces which cost in Paris twenty dollars
coula not be bought here in flush times for Ie.s
than sixty 1t should further be remembered,
that twentv or thirty thousand of our woman ei-
thar reside abroad or go to Europe nearly every
srmuer The amount of rich stuffs- silks satins
vsIvets. shalws and jewelry-which they run
through the Custom House free, is something
enarmous-not less than million year; and all
Injuries of not the slightest use to anybody on the
face of the earth. We have seen on board one shin
lady enter as her personal baggage, twenty lars
tsupks. No princess IN the world would have 50
much
The Herald then proceeds to add insult to injury
by speakins of the marked distinction between the
promenade dresses of upper ten" and of those
abroad; the French and English going
out to walk in plain, neat, servceabie dresses
whilst the New York aristocracy having very
much the vulgar and undiscriminatiBg taste for
show which characierizes the African character,
have for walking dresses, robes which made
for the carriage or the drawing room. mo
where in the world,' says the Herald, "are the
women dressed so badly and SO extensively as in
America When We go abroad we astonished
by the simple morning and promenade costumes
Of the daughters of the English nobiiity-men with
reut.rolls to which an American fortune is a drop
in the sea A French Countess, with fixed in
come of hundred thousand pounds year, will
not snend half so much on her dress the wife of
New York merchant whose business may give
him profit of ten thousand dollars a year, and
may bring him in debt to double that amount, Let
made at Saratoga, Newport or Cape May, and com
pare with the modest attire Of the arstocracy of
Baden, Brighton or Barritz."
This is the Heralds account of it's o,un aristoc-
raey. 1t is not true picture of american women
in general for happily the oyergrown Northern
citiss are not America. A lady correspondent of
the Herald, however, gives him Roland for his
@ liver. She asks him who smoke the four millions
OF dollars worth of cigars and tobacco which are
imported, and who drink the seven millions worth
Of foreign wines and spirits; who support the
gambling clubs, fast horses and fast wome