Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-05-12
For the Yorkville Enquirer.
TOM HOBSON.
SIJMBERu
NUMBER II.
HIS ARTISTIC EMBELLISHMENTS.

NUMBER ii.
HIS ARTISTIC EMBELLISHMENTS.
Mankind, without exception, commence life's
eyentful drama in o state of nudity. The outer
covering of mans body is not of that testaceous
kind which renders the work Of art unnecessary.
In this, man is distinguished from thequadrupeds
that range the forest the feathered songsters that
float in the air. and the aquatic tribes that swim
the sea. These outward coverings are not furnish
ed him as they are to snnimated beings, whose
wants and destiny are unequal to his. Not only
modesty, convenience and comfort, require that
mans outward form should be invested with some
thing more than nature gives, but the laws OF
civilization are rigid and infexible in demanding
something additional. To pride and vanity, it
may be humiiating to know that they must borrow
all their decorations from an inferior grade of
beings. Such dependence upon an inferior order
may be mortifying to the foolish and self.con-
ceited, but to the rejecting mind, it discovers
the link in the great chain of dependency, which
runs through the wide dominion Of nature. To
procure suitable habliments for the body, gives
exercise to the intellect and reason, of which
those below him in the scale, are destitute.
Man cannot arise, as one has said, and "dress
himself Mt shake" more tedious process has
been assigned him before he can appear with res
pect in the presence of his peers. But that which
was intended to subserve man for short time,
and enlist his thoughts to a certain extent, has
swallowed up every other interest That which
he wts taught to regard as convenience and COM
fort, he has deifed and worShipped. The first dis
ribution of nature, was to ix two grand cassifca-
tons, as 10 what should employ the minds and
hands of intelligent creatures upon eartb.--
These two grand classi6cations of her own arran-
eing, are found to be inherent and Interchangeable
necessities, which begin at the dawn Of being,
and end of death, viz: what man shall eat, and
what ho shall PIT on The latter of these we
have called artistic Embellishments, which as we
intimated instead Of occupying e subordinate
department of the mind, has stirred the pulse Of
the world for centuries past. A demand for these
are the first utterarces of nature in her feeblest
estate; but the efforts to procure the decorations
of art, have surpassed those made to satisfy the
cravings Of appetite. Such is the demand for the
outer veil in which man is wrapped, and especial
" such is the desire and cry for the ornamental,
as to extend the boundaries Of commerce. This
pursuit after the ornamental, or fashion," has
given employment and food to g. large portion of
the race, and "supply and demand" are the watch
words of the mercantile world. Not only has this
consumption and production given employment to
thousands of our race, but by it, the characters
and inner feelings of nations have been discover
ed The outer robes have been made the expo
nents of priciples, sentiments and creeds. By
this, mans position, calling profession, residence,
tribe ship, habtudes and manners, have been in
dicated. Through this medium, gauns poverty
often proclaims her desttution, while the million
aire in gorgeous apparel, seeks the same method
of counting bis treasures. Through this channel,
sorrow, in deep and solemn silence, announces
her woes in the hearing Of a thoughless and un-
feeling world; while the mirthful and joyous
draw around them shining robes to express their
merriment. The soldier on the battle field, the
minister in the desk, the orator on the rostrum,
the statesman on the stump, the king on his throne,
the lord in his palace, all, all nbe distinguished
BY these outer coverings 1t is the dialect by which
one nation speaks to another, though the Ian
puare be not understood and the world is in hot
chase after fashion; and though so universally
sought, is seldom found. She eludes the serach
of the most Jealous who follow her train.
"Ah!" exclaims the grave matroq, 81 have
been seeking this fitting-image all my life. Oh!
the bitter tears l have shed while trying to keep
up with this swift. winged imp, which has mad
deued the world and when thought had over
taken it, and reached out my hand to grasp it.
then saw my neighbor was before me. Oh i6e
upon it am beaten again. All my life long l
have expended my husbands money, and part OF
the time, had TO take it when he was gone,
though never stole it. l have stinted myself of
bread I have famshed my children only when
company was present; have strained my hus-
bands credit until thought it would break to
pieces; and have been toiling upon this dress
and fashion night and day, (though tell visitors
i never work) and now, after all my trouble,
am left behind" And thus it is-matrons, dam
sci, coxcombs and sires; great men and small,
kings and lords, queens and princes, poor men
and rich, white gentlemen and black, mistress and