Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-01-14
Dress.

From New Years fashionable article in the
NewYork Dispatch we extract the following.
We should think it was written by a lady, ana
she gives some common sense advice wllch
some people would do well to heed:
"If two rival bellies meet at an evening party,
the pleasure of one is destroyed if the other
happeus to wear more elegant dress, or at
tracts greater number ofgentlemen, whose ad-
miration is otten q poor standard by which to
Judge of real merit. If one marries ''well, that
is rich, the other is bent upon obtaining an eS.
tablishment equal in point of magnificence, the
circumference which goes along with it is sec
ondary consideration altogether. Should this
be accomplished their whole lives become
mere race, in which first one and then the other
obtains the advantage. The spirit has become
so general that it is well understood through
all branches of trade, and ifa merchant wishes
to dispose of very costly and unsaleable article
he incidentally remarks to some lady customer
that Mrs So-and-so admired it exceedingly, and
would have purchased it to wear on such an oc-
casion, but it was too COSTLY and she therefore
took an inferior article of the same kind. 1t is
very seldom that the bait does not take.
This spirit of jealousy and selfshnessis not by
any means confined to the wealtlier portion OF
our citizens. 1t is just as keen in the breast OF
the clerk US it is in the merchant; in the heart
of the poor girl who tolls through the week for
her four dollars, as in the fifth avenue belle, and
needs only more opportunities for exercise, to
show itself in quite as revolving form. Every
cent of their hard earnings is SPENT procuring
gay dress, or snowy ornaments, while they
are frequently nearly destitute of other clothing,
and all the real comfort of living is sacrificed to
the desire of 'making an appearance"
Nor is this ALL the probability is that two
thirds of the vice in this city arises from an inord
nate love of display, and a reckless disregard
of the consequence which must ensue from graf
flying 1.-THE torture, the shame. the humilia-
ton of accumulated debts, and the WEAKNESS
and despair which only those feel who have
known this misery, should deter others from fol-
lowing in their footsteps. Why not commence
the new wear with determination not to sac
ri6ce health and purity to the mere qualification
of passing fancies, or o vulgar love of display
Let us see if life does not contain something
more valuable than fine houses and handsome
clothes and instead of following the freaks and
vulgarities of the capricious goddess OF fashion
set an example which the sensible women OF
other nations will initiate
In the coming season, the expense of an ele-
giant toilette will be even greater than it has
beer. Merchants say that all silk goods-and
these comprise the staple of our most costly clo-
thing-are much higher in the warehouses than
those they have ON hand and thus the price will
rise at least twenty-five Per cent on the spring
trade All this additional cost must be wrung
ont of the hands of the husbands and fathers of
families, unless we determine no longer to sweep
the streets with hundred dollar robes or aston
ish set of absurd jackanapes with wonderful
imported novelties Forego the pretentious
hounces, and wear noat, dark, unpretending
dresses for promenade, which will permit us to
take as much exercise as we need, without dan
ger to our costume and without attracting the
disgraceful attention of coxcombs and ber-
tines"