Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-18
TO ADvERTIsERs.
CoNvENT1oNALTsM.

One of the marked characteristics of the age,
is the disposition of nearly every man-and
no less woman-to conform to all the petty,
tyrannical and whimsical usages of society,
without regard to their propriety, and without
inquiring as to the why and wherefore. TAX
en- together, we are tame, stereotyped, fash
conserving race. We are constrained to do
certain acts, to utter certain language, and to
wear certain styles of dress, because our neigh
bors do the same We go to the polls to vote
with the majority, because it is unpleasant to
be on the unpopular side, and because the
Hon. Mr.. A. and Squire B. are the leaders of
the party. We attend church with the mass,
and conform to certain peculiar rites, because
to do otherwise would subject us to the dis
pleasure of our friends or the obloquy of the
public. We wear long-tailed coats and skin
tight pants, or vice versa, because the tailor
assures us it is the fashion. The ladies-heav-
en- protect us from the effect of the assertion
sport bonnet that will not cover the head
of an infant, a "bustle" that amounts to a de-
formity, or hooped skirt as large as an Arabs
tent, because some silly woman in Paris has set
the example. We live in houses that are
inconvenient, if not unhealthy, because they
are stylish, or because they arc in a fashionable
neighborhood. We build dwelling houses be-
yond our means, because we are vain enough
to desire to outvie our friends, and not honest
enough to acknowledge our true condition.
We attend routs and balls because other people
go; and We falsely aver that we enjoy them,
when the heart says an hours domestic enjoy
ment at home is worth them all. We give
splendid parties to CRAFTY our vanity, assuring
our guests how happy we are to see them,
when we inwardly wish them at the antipo-
DIES. We profess great independence in mat
tiers of political opinion, yet dare not bolt from
caucus nomination not fit to be made. We
expect our representative in the State or Ma
tional Legislature to exercise that sound judg-
ment and discretion which have elevated him
to that position; yet, if his course is not square
with our notions in all respects, we call him a
fool, and charge him with having "gone over
to the enemy" To be sure, we were told
this by the subtlest politician in the town
or country, but didn't we know it before
1t is singular coincidence that our opin-
ions correspond with those with whom it ould
be very unfortunate to disagree. Our travel
ing companion calls our attention to the Unite
crows in the adjacent field. They look ex-
ceedingly black to us, yet we exclaim, "white
crows! how remarkable LusuS nature, in
deed !"
And thus Conventionalism makes towards
and fools of us all. By it we lose our indi-
viduality, and no less certainly our manhood.
five were disrobed of all opinions, all actions,
and all appearances, except those which are
legitimately and truly our own-the fruits of
our private and sincere judgement-what
miserable, skeleton apologies for true men and
women we should appear And so we shall
ever be until we have the independence to think
our own thoughts, and act our own actions
Reader please don't stand any longer in fear
of what Mrs Grundy may say