True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-11-11
The I.adia.

1t has been recently denied with some
warmth, that the expense of the ladies'
dresses and general ornamentation, has
had much to do with our present 6nan-
cial difficulties. Now while we freeI. .d-
NIT that it does not become the gentlemen
in view of their own extravagancies, ami
their encouragement Of the feminine do
ings in question, to "cast the first stone''
still, as sober chroniclers, and for the
edi6cation of the ladies themselves, we
are compelled to endorse the charges re-
ferred 10 as a true bill.
Just look, dear ladies,--very respect.
fully, we urge you-at the figures. Du.
ring the fiscal year ending June 3Otb
1855, we imported silk piece goods 10
the amount of $25, 100000, other silk
goods 10 the value of $6,OI7,4l5, la,es
81 ,6Ol ,6lO, embroiders ST. 1864, i,353, ma.
king altogether over thirty Seven millions
of dollars, of which sum we suppose at
least $40 900, 600 was for the ladies'.
Now, if the ladies. really had tried and
fathers, husbands brothers and lovers
contents-how large proportion of that
yearly balance of thirty millions could
have been saved. Really, we suppose
that some ten millions would have dres-
sed the ladies just as comfortably and, to
our notions, as preltily. We however
confess to being the verries: heather in
the matter of dress, and recently drove a
young lady almost into refusal to ac.
company us to a party, becaus Sc VIZ insis.s
ted that a certain pretty cheap calico was
really pre'tier than her more expensive
silk
We do not blame the ladies particular.
ly. The fault is, as Mrs, Merdle would
say, that of society. Society demands it,
Society in this country even more than
in England perhaps, will have i so, Per-
haps one reason is, that our first society,"
in this country is composed 10 such an
extent Of gentlemen who have made mo.
ney in the dry goods ine--and who have
a professional disgust (if we may use the
word to anything so cheap as CALICO
Now probably many an English lord
would really think cheap dress, where
taste was displayed, just as pretty and be-
coming as an expensive one-not know.
Ing at glance the difference in their mark
ed values, as The gentlemen of our first
society generally do, even if they do not
proclaim at once the exact cost of dress
to the lady herself, as opening CONVEX
sation upon a subject which they are Pc
cuIiarly fitted to illuminate.
No, we do not blame the ladies'. Thev,
Heaven bless them, strive to please the
'stronger.minded sex. And therefore we
would respectfully implore these latter,
especially those in the dry.goods line
not 10 systematically depreciate the beau
ty of every dress and ornament that is
cheap. The best things are cheap as to
money value. Rosy cheeks are very
pretty even when very common. And a
pretty calico, especially to man whose
purse is light, around the form Of the wo-
man he loves, is none the less pretty be-
cause everybody else can have one just
as costly, For that matter, the silks
themselves are no peculiar Distinction
for even the domestics nowadays, often
ouldress their mislresses, and show an,
even more sovereign contempt for ccone-
my ard calico. That all may amend
their ways, isthe hope, we trust, OF every
sensible man and woman.-Sat, EUG
Post.