True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-02-03
interesting Miscellany,
VANITY IN DRESS.


In his original creation man was form
ed 10 manifest his God-like appearance
without the snowy appendage of dress;
but the fall having its effec. upon ma
ture in an entire revolution upon the earth.
rendered it necessary that a covering
should be adopted. But in process Of
time what was at first adopted as mat
ter of necessity and decency, degenera
ted with the weak minded and vain into
a love Of display. This was manifested
in a most conspicuous manner not merely
in the dress, but in the ornaments attach.
ed, SO thatln process Of time, wha. at first
was garment, became a mass of ,ink'
ling ornaments. Not only were those or
naments attached 10 the dress, but also
placed on parts of'the person, where no
covering was necessary, such as rings on
the fingers, and the ears and with some
nations, as among many Indian tribes, and
other savage nations Of our time, the nose
and even the lips, were bored and filled,
with barbaric ornaments.
That among the earliest times this was
customary, we can see from Eleazar, the
steward Of Abraham, showing to Rebecca
his appreciation Of her kindness, he placed
upon her large amount Of jewelry worn
by the Egyptians that the quantity bOr-
rowed by The Israelites, without the in
tehtion Of returning, was called spelling
the Egyptians. or equivalent TO very
grea, and serious loss. In a nation so
rich as Egypt, the amount ofjewelry thus
collected must have been very grea: 10
seriously affect their wealth. The Israeli
ties retained the same love Of barbaric
splender during their existence in a ma
,ional capacity, and retain it to this day
as there is scarcely Jew. peddler that
canno. display upon his person much
valuable jewelry.
The boring Of the ears is retained at
this time among the most civilized peo-
pie, although limited chiefly to females
it is foolish remnant Of barbarism and
should be abolished. Indeed, in the more
intelligent and refined classes Of society,
it is 60 looked upon and abandoned. yet
many cling to it with such tenacity that
they bore the ears Of even little babes,
thus, in reality, disfguring them for life,
and torturing Them cruelty and uselessly.
We do no. object to wearing jewelry,
indeed. we like to see it tastefully ar
ranged upon the person, but we object to
mutilating the ears, which are, if vel
proportioned, the handsomest ornament
Of the face, but the stretching them with
hoops Of gold or glass diamonds, distOrti
and spoils their proportion.
The ornamsnting Of dress and dressing
neatly and handsomely, is right and ne
cessaryto avoid singularity in society
but when carried TO excess, as it is BY
brainless fops, and too many ladies, whit
have no other way to attract attention
degenerates it into the vulgar vice Of van
iiy. Where we see the person uselessly
covered with snowy masses Of costly
dress, we may safely infer that there is
greal weakness in the internal formation
Of the brain ; indeed, when we see a lady
sweeping the sidewalk with flowing mas
.ses Of costly silk, we always consider
as a sign hung out, stating-"I have no
intelligence, good sense or other usefu
attraction 10 eap,ivate the mind, / there
fore will captivate the eye with outwar'
show"
Nature is in these matters an excellen
teacher; every thing which she present
as the most useful, is the simplest dresse
to, the eye. The violent is plain ant
simple flower, but is superior TO all 9th
sers in fragrance, while the gorgeoa
idahlia. is without any pleasant odor.-
The rose, in its wild state,is simpl
flower. but its fragrance fills the surround
ing air with sweetness, but cultivate !
so as to make il snowy, and il loses al
The peacock and the bird Of paradise. ar
the most gorgeous Of feathered creatures
yet are destitute Of any other quality, ea
cept such as is dissgreeable. The thrus
robin and mockiug bird, are most plainl
dressed, but who Of Us bave not listene
with enrsptured delight to their gloriou
notes, Who would exchange the swet
singing mocking bird for the most gol