The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1857-01-17
nlistcllancous.
The Crime of Fashions

1t is not at all singular that the daily press
is beginning to overhaul the extravaganza of
city life.
We, too, claim our right to discuss this
all-mportant subject, and raise our voice in
vindcation of good taste, and modest cxpcn-
diturc. 1t tnay happen, that we ii,ay invade
the established monarchy of Fashion, but we
are too well acquain'ed with the True and the
| Beautiful, to hesitate in what we conceive to
be manly duty, and so We place ourselves
in the lists, and will splinter lance. not
against the sex that appears the mos. guilty,
but against the error Of Judgment, that is run
ming into RIGHTEOUSNESS.
From our window that overlooks the great
Broadway, We have constantly before our
eyes the theme of our discourse. 1t rolls along
in one-stcady column of waste and want. of
wealth and witchery. In coaches, glittcring
with bold essays at foreign livery: on foot, IN
broad balloons that vie with the vast sllken
globes of the Hippodlomc: in shawls that
eclipse the tints of the rainbow and for whose
value, the British East India Company III the
days of Warren Hastings, would have gone
into war against regiment Of Native Prin-
ccs. We will not say up town. but speak
ing generally. we will assert. that in this city
expense is running before income, and III
come is sought after in channels. that too
often find their source in fraud. and find their
issue where crime is welded to punishment,
and punishment to perpetual infamy.
In and out Of the doorwayS Of the great
slkcn and fur stores, flows tide of wives
and daughters. In and out of the tempting
doorways of the golcontla icwelry establish
mcnts, where diamonds glitter with more
temptations in their pendant glory. than the
apple in the garden Of Paradise, the crowds
pass in and out, and the spirit Of rivalry,
alone is visible in their flushed faces; the
spirit to surpass each other in the show of
jewelltd bracelets, of gorgeous pms, of came
os of fabulous price, and bills Of destructive
items.
How exquisite is a woman nodestly attireG;
how radiant are those eyes that have no inn
perial baubes to flash rival splendor. on the
honest admiration of a simple hearted. true
minded gentleman. A e.hud i'll the bosom,
simple flower on a chaSte brow. u dainty
shawl, with c.lorS that do not blush at their
own price. with n robe whose mysterious I'M
dulations teach us to look upon the w,a,er
rs a being of perfected taste, and of more per-
fcctcd modesty, and how our hearts ycarn
towards her, as we feel that she is a woman,
not a doll: wife, not ilirt: maid. not
decked tcmptation-a WIFE who guards her
husbands credit in the Exchange, as she
guards his honor in his home: a maid. whose
whole department signals her as fit com
pa,lion for life, of an upright and conscicnt
Gus man. A companion without a wish for
livcrits. without sigh for foreign whiskcrs.
or foreign dances Of corrnpting intoxication,
in halls lit with gases, whose light illumcs the
tiagsard father face. when he reflects that
on the morrow, as he reaches his place of in.
dustlious toll. the price Of all this will be
presented to him, in a bill. that will break
his credit, and toss him upon the shore of
| legitimate commerce, broken wreck, rud-
derlcSs and ruined
| We would not disturb, but rather cncour
age the social cnjoynents Of this great city.
We would nottakc away from those who like
them, the evening gatherings, the plenteous
preparation of republican hospitality. the
wealth and perfume of homc-raised flowers,
and home bred loneliness: the ornaments that
while they do not blemi>h, cannot add one
other charm TO female pride OF dress. but we
would break up now and forever, in this great
town, throughout all its avenues, in all its
retired walks, the rage for corrupt cxpeldi-
ture, of useless extravaganza, and reduce all
those things that tend TO adorn private life, or
make public life an ambition, to the true
standard of what is right.
Is there sincerity in the pre-puttcd enter
tanmcnt that Mr.. Crusus is to give to NOR
row night at his pnlatial mansion! Is there
enjoyment in the preparation for that ball.
which costs the poor devil of a stock -jolbns
husband down town, a quarters profits upon
his htart. dous speculations! Not bit
oft. The shining silk, the MORE antique,
the regal gem, the bouquet received by stealth
from a gallant, who, mayfair, has Robbed the
till to buy, will pass mnstcr for three OF four
hours in a crowded hall; but my dear Madam
Mrs. Thingembob will beat you IN such wares
for her scarf cost thousand dollars, the
plume that decks her false black hair was
sent to her by Russian Count, her fingers
bear the tribute ola dozen fnvers, each worth
his weight III fraud and forgery, the sleigh
that bore her to the festival, with its RAPID
bays, was made i'll Poland, ard the horses
were bought at Huntngton's sale of bloodcd
stock.
For mcrcy's sake, then, fair and beloved
ladies. abstain from this riot and this perpet-
nal sacrifice to Vanity Fair. Turn inwardy
for few moments and think, think. EXer-
else moderation-yic not with mushrooms
that spring up in night. and withcr If they
are not promptly gathered for the Kitchen
The trucst test Of social elevation, is a modcr-
ate tone of conduct, for that marks q mind
secure in its own strength, and equal TO the
destiny 10 which Heaven has invoked it.
Poner's Spirit Of The Times.