The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-10-27
Hites Of bis constituents and to secure Sooo
Iegislaaion. Nominations Ike these are what ne
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is q very remarkable person. He is q statesman
plausible. though always wrong-a soldier who
commanded brigade in the field and was never
under fre-a politician always unreliable and
often inscive-always turning up to receive his
share of the epols of victory, and al ways shrink
ing the responsibility of defeat A short time
ago the Chevalier left the service Of bis migrate
full country, and like another Marcellus, retired
to the shadow of his ancestral elms. He was
there received with much honor--the drums were
beaten-the banners displayed on the outward
walls--orati0ns were pronounced, and the exiled
patriot was received with all the honcrs spper-
tanning to a returned conqueror. There hath
Aiistides since remained, wrapt in those pro-
found studies and those obstruae problems of
statecraft which have made him the Richelieu Of
Newbuyport. Soothed by the murmurs of the
Merrimac, famed by the breezes of the Atlantic,
bis mind relieved from the tolls of Office, has been
free to elaborate the most remarkable themes
upon commerce, kid gloves, fssnce law, re-
lgion, crinolne, moral philosophy, hoped petit
coats MORE antique silks, thread lAoes, and yari
GUS other matters great and small, all of which
he launched forth to an astonished world in a
recent afterdinner speech in the classic forum
of Boston-old Fansuil Hall.
The knights of old were in the habit of vast
ing crest deal of valuable time by defending at
swords point the reputation of some particular
damsel to whom they inclined The Chevalier
Gushing goes further, and enters the list to do
battle for all the ladies. He declares that they
are not at all responsible for the pre-
cent financial revulsion that their founces
and furbelows are only a bagatelle in the ques-
ton of exports ard imports; that their crinoline
did not stop the Erie Railway; that their silks
did not break the Ohio Life aud Trust Company
that their kid gloves and lillipu!ian bonnets
had nothing to do with the stoppage of the great
dry goods houses; and further, that their style of
dress is quite the correct thing in every way
And he-the said Chevalier-makes public pro-
clamaticn that he will defend this issue after the
good old chivalric custom. Hear ye, all men
the Chevalier, armed at all points, his visor
down, his lance in rest, awaits the combat The
Knight Of Salamanca again is in the field.
Now, We do not yield to any man in devotion
nearly all Of our countrywomen who have money
or credit or could obtain either have been for Sc
yeral years shamefuliy extravagant- they are
almost entirely responsible for the excessive i'm
ports of articles of luxury, which imports have
drained our specie reserve and loaded do wn our
warehouses with articles which are of no earthly
use, and that they are even now spending too
much money for articles which they do no. need,
but which they buy simply on account Of de-
cline in price. Let US see the figures
The total value OF the imports for the fiscal
year ending June 50, 1856, was 1914, 639, 942, of
which, for articles Of luxury consumed by wo-
men, we have spent S43,624 55s. Forty-three
millions of dollars! That is equal to the whole
product Of the gold mines in California for one
year, and that would have more than suite Il
to have saved us from the crisis. or this
sum S3l 2lS,I6G were paid for silks and
manufactures Of silks; S6,376, s53 for laces and
embroideries; shawls, 50 529,77l; gloves, 1874
$50; furs ssG4,73l; jewelry. ss4, $50; silk and
worsted piece goods, 81 $685. We expended
two millions more for silk than for sugar, and
20 on. We have omitted many items which
would tell against the women, US II may be urged
that men consume portion Of the articles above
enumerated. The articles omtted-b,joaerie.
artificial flowers French Shoes and boots. fancy
articles, and the thousand and one fripperics tia,
make up that wonderful mystery fashionable
womau's attire would more than balance the ac-
count There Is o little item Of $4,000 for per.
fumcd soap which is quite good index TO the
whole thing. Again, 1t must be remembered
that these figures are taken from the Treasury
reports, and that the articles are valued at some
thing under the wholesale rate, while our air
country women are charged upon all such matters
a. laccs al least one hundred per cent profit A
set OF laces which cost in Paris twenty dollars
could not he bought here in flush times for less
than sixty. /. should further b. remembered.
that twenty or thirty thousand Of our women
either reside abroad or 60 to Earope nearly every
summer. The amount Of rich stuils-silks, satins,
velvets, shaSls and jewelry-wbich they run
through the Custom House free, is something
enormous not Ices than a million year and
all luxuries Of not the slightest use to anybody
on The face Of the Garth. We have seen on board
ono ship lady enter, rs her personal baggage
twenty large trunks No princess in the world
would have 70 much.
The travelled American cannot fail TO have
noticed the marked distinction between the pro.
mCn6de drCscg Of our women and OF tboe
abroad. The French and English women 90 out
TO walk in plain, neat, scrviceable dresses, while
oms drag their heavy silks in the CUTTERS Ame-
rican women are guilty Of shameful cxrava
gance and lad tagte n wearing for walking
dccses robcs which nrr INSIDE for the carriage or
the drawing room.
More we might allege, for the subject il Of the
deepest Importance but, statistcally, quite
enough hos been proved The worst fac. Of all
remains 10 be stated. Az far as the question Of
fashion gocs-how a robe shall be cut, OF the