Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-01-29

appear to be guided by no law Of reason,
nor Of fpropriety. The cultivation of every
virtue--of the head and hearts neglect
ed, and the passion for dress and display
fostered and nourished, as if not only po-
si.ion in society but actual existence de-
/ pended upon the costliness of apparel
We see hundreds of ladies daily sweeping
the streets, arrayed in more splendor than
were even the females of the patrician hop-
ses of Rome when that city was at the ac-
me of luxury and profigacy.
The editor of the Courier thinks that g
movement like that alluded to above, Is
needed in America, andnowhere more than
in Louisville Ky. But if on some fail
morning he will take walk down Bati
more street; or if it be Sunday, pay visit
to one of our fashionable churches. Metho-
dist, Baptist, Presbyterian, he will proba.
bly, find that the city of monuments is al
least a match for Louisville.
i The Courier continues:
The manufactures Of every nation are
brought into requisiiion to supply the fool
ish tastes, the whims and caprices of VIC
mankind. The silks of China, the laces O.
4 Belgium, the feathers of Africa, and tho
furs of the Arctic regions, all are il
demand, and they are all procured
regardless of cost in order that one
person may make a more ostentacious dis
play than another This rivalry among la
\ dies as to who shall be the most extrava
gantly dressed, or rather overdressed, ex-
ceeds that between contending aspirants
for political honors. 1t begets pride, vani
", every and all the mcaner and more de
basing passions. 1t inaugurates into soci
city a new test of responsibility. and tha
J person who can faunt in the cos.liest robe:
and dazzle With the rarest jewelry is the
finest lady. Before The omnipotent behesa
of fashion and dress all the advantages o
talent, of virtue. and Of true womanhooc
must SuccumO.
This unfortunate tone of public senti
ment is productive of more evils than We
generally suppose. : None can object t.
/ those who have large incomes spending
their money profusely in whatever nanne
they may choose. But we do object I,
their setting up false standard of meri
and respectability. Such is the weakness
of human nature that many females irnag
inc themselves lowered in public estimation
ifthey are not so well and fashionably
dressed as their neighbors. The wives anc
daughters of men who are employed OF
| small salaries thus enter into all the dissi
patious dress. as if they-had an annua
income ofthousands in the place Of hun
dreds.
i We see every day ladies upon the street
so richly atti,ed that we know their hus
bands are inadequate tameet the expense
No wonder that many men are thus driver
90 desperation--that they defraud their EN-
ployers, that they seek dishonorable mean:
by which to maintain the follies of their
wives. No wonder that young men, con
templating this frightful degree of extrav
agance that now pervades all classes, shrink
from marriage because it would entail upor
them the support of an establishment be
yond their pecuniary ability"
These are home truths, and this start
ling picture, but not overdrawn. Is there
not good sense enough in the community tc
bring abouta reform? The interests Of So
ciety--'he interestssof humanity--all plead
loudly for a .curtailment of the female ex
travagance of the day,
We entirely concur with the Prsbyteri
an Herald, in partly commendihg and part
ly cepsuring the structures of the Courier
In most of its positions we most heartily
concur. But when the editor states tha
''none can object to those who have large
incomes spending their money IN whatev-
er manner they please" hessta,es position
directly in the face of all the teachings O
the Bible on that subject. Wealth is tai
ent given to its possessor by God to be us
ed for his glory. The lady Of wealth GER
j tainly may lawfully surround herself will
the comforts and conveniencess of life, O
which others less favored in that respec
ought 70 deny themselves; but she may no
/. spehd her money foolishly and extrava
gaptly with any less sin in the sight of Goo
; than any other lady. Her very position il
t society gives herexample potency which
} does not belong to that of otherA and sh'
, is responsible 70 God and to society for tha
example. She should not tempt others in
!, to sin merely because she has the power t.
r do so. The Scriptures are very explici
in their directions to kchris!ain females up
on this point Whose adorniug let8 no
r be that outward adorning of plailing tn,
hair. .weafing of gold, ,sor putting on of ap
4 parel, but'le it be the hidden man of III,