Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-07-22
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yaSfss' 9sgartment.
Dress AVID Domestic Happiness.

0ANoo ahW 0VAAS@SA~ u
A celebrated French woman has well
said, that the greatest blessing that a Wo-
man can receive on earth, is the contInu-
ance of the affection of her husband after
marriage. The sentiment is worthy OF re-
ception in every country and by every wo-
man.
One little preliminary, however, stands
forward with the necessity of being pre-
Siously settled; il is, winning the husband.
1t is "a homely, aud perhaps, a Calling
phrase, that woman, who should be wooed,
and not unsought to be wou,' can ever
stoOp TO show a willingness to attract atten-
ton that may lead to serious consequences,
is a proof Of condescension which migrate
ful man sometimes wrests to her reproach.
Let the SHINE fall upon the %scoffer. Mar
rage, without the sentiment which is its
sacrament, is but a low, mutual degrading
bargain.
1n.the FIRST quarter of the present ccntu-
ry, matrimony was the rule. Society
moves on under different impressions now.
Masculine self indulgence aud the club
houses have reversed the order of things.
Men enjoy themselves better in their sub
s~cription palaces, where they live like kings,
and women stife the warm feelings that
might have made homes and hearts glad
with Joy 10 the secret recesses of the soul,
where no prying eye can fathom and no
babbling tongue betray.
MANY causes concur in determining this
state Of disunion, loosening the bonds of
life and making different sections of society
fall thus widely apart. Let US speak faith
fully and honestly. Flattery degrades
those who accept it as much as those who
tender. The very means which women
adopt TO enhance their own attractions
act contrary to their own purpose.
We speak Of dress-not that we are go
ing to preach a crusade against it. The
Creator has been pleased to wreath the
world with flowers, to gid it with sunlight,
and to paint it with exquisite hues. There
fore, we desire no drab-colored garb, nc
spirit murder Of that exquisite intelligence
which we call taste.
Expensive habits in women prove to mer
most potent argument against matrimony
A great authority has said that you may
know a woman character from her costume
With rather more than the usual numbe
of exceptions arising out of various circum
stances, this must be accepted as truth
Some Of the Partisan ladies expend one
third Of their husbands income in dress
That fact is enough to alarm a very cour
ageous gentleman. We do not say tina
English ladies have yet practised so grea
n selGshness, but we do say that there ar
many whose dazzling appearance migt
well make a man look to consequences, an
ask himself If he really could afford to pa
the bills without bankruptcy. 1t seems
if ladies in general strove to give an il
preston Of extravaganza, as though tn,
thought to gain that character was a DEF
rable thing. To see our streets swept wi
floating silk brocades, bonnets encrust
all over with flowers, SO that their und
material can scarcely be ascertained,
count the costof laces, bracelets. brooch,
ssSvvvs5 uuu rteuKS without end, may W
brighten a gentleman who looks to con
quences.
1t may be quite true that the value
the whole wardrobe which a young ia
carries about with her may be as fictitit
as the articles which compose it. New
kutAGoEg IL 10 IhGdnb W IOuNGy IL lLupl
sion Of costliness, and is an indication
what would be done if the power were
command.
No wonder that men take the alarm
That very fnery furnishes an argum
against the attractions it is meant to
nance. Those coverings display to
beholder not only trains Of silk, but ira
Of consequences, and a simple process i
very simple rule of arithmetic puts the
sponsible party in mind of the fact t
every dress contains exactly double
number of yards that it used to when it
cheaper.
We fully believe that no lady ever dr.
ed to please herself alone. Men have
right to be stern reproyers of a lady's
lette, since every effort to look charm
is nothing less than the desire to pl
tho sovereign lords Of the creation. q
tude ought to disarm censure. The {
plimcnt involves labor, expense, time, t
Bile -
where none admire It's bottles to exec
Where none are beaux tits vain to be be
And what is the return for all this
to please? Just this, a rational objec
against matrimony; men begin to sa.
Themselves that they cannot afford SO
pensive a luxury as a wife. Her
takes as much silk as a balloon. '
with the expenses Of the toilette AM
pilfcring of servants, he feels he shou
ruined in the first t~welvemonth.
So the gentleman contents himself
his club and eight shiIlings a week
attic, no one knowing where he hides
self at night, but having Injuries and
con SSWP qGGFt " 4 fJ r ais kts letters.
But would it be so if women, instt
indulging to excess in the art of
learnt something of the art Of econom
To understand how to guide a house
ensure domestic happiness. To kno
house keeping income, and to max
amount to produce the greatest retu
plenty and comfort, is IAN excellent
IN woman it takes away imprudel
marriage. A just proportion Of exI
precludes anxiety. There is no re
ness about unpaid bills necessary
are always at command when they arr
ted. There is none of that miserab
pediency called into practice which
to hypocrisy-no humiliation befor,
dren, no degradation before serva
Above all, the mind isat peace and Ii
science quiet.
M IL .