Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-09-07
0riginal 4apers.
A Growl against Hoops.

We really expected better things of the
writer of the annexed communication, than
that he should have been guilty of such a
''tirade" against one of the greatest femi-
nine institutions of the day. If he were
not already the lawful owner of buxom
mountain iassie, we should conclude that
some fair one whom he wished to aap-
proach," had held him off at shoop dis
tance"-saYing. ssthns far. 1T go farther"
But when we remember he isse Iavl-5-s-o
"a "Brain-crammer"-we can testify,
from knowledge of old, that he belongs to
a cross-grained, peevish set, of whom no.
thing more might be expected. We pub
lish his 6rutum fulnaen, and turn him
over to those whose territory he wishes to
invade, hoping he may meet the fate of
Fallstaf at the duck-pond.-ED. AGE.
For the Spirit of the Age.
Mr.. EDITOR You men of the Press
say that North Carolina is on the advance;
and so she is. But some of her advances
are with very strange and foolish strides in
the wrong direction. This running insti-
tution' around the pedal extremities of the
feminine gender, is an advancement to-
wards occupying more area upon terrain
ttrnaona, than old Dame Nature intended to
any one of her bipeds. The fact is, the
thing is becoming troublesome, up here !;
and | thought | would just drop you line
this evening, after getting release from
my sanctum, and beg you, for territory's
sake to aid US in this crusade against Mrs.
Bones, Skeletons, and others, who are in
vading our peaceful possessions, unless you,
away there at Raleigh, are content to let
us poor masculincs here in the western part
of the State, be crushed by the huge conf
cal-shaped creatures that move about among
us, or be compelled to climb sapplings to
save our shins their daily and unmerited
conflict with bones and brass and steel.
like rotundity in the female figure
1t is one of the elements of gracefulness
But too much of anything "kills~eats." Il
is not my business to intermeddle with fe,
male apparel, or to animadvert upon Their
habits of dress, only in those things which
come in direct conflict with nay sense o
decency and propriety. And would like
to know what sort of propriety is seen II
the dress of lady of ordinary size, wher
the base thereof is extended by hoops t.
RI tho diameter of ssix=ors sssss. fcct. exposing
her to ridiculous positions in crowded hall
. and assemblies. Hoops of moderate siz
add gracefulness to the female form; ant
: if worn during the Summer months, may
; be advantageous to the health of delicat,
! ladies, as they supersede the necessity Q
: quilts and pads. But | am speaking o
: those kinds, which, when viewed at dis
e tance, always remind the beholder of tn
e tents of the Hottentots or Esquimaux.-
!: These are decidedly ridiculous. They ar
! ugly, improper and inconvenient; subject
- - ing the poor, pitiful worshiper at the shrin
). of fashion to the contempt and ridicule {
g sensible people. And no extenuation {
l. this species of folly can be plead upon tn
e grounds that the fashion took its origi
e from the Empress Eugene, and is kept u
n by the elite and wealthy. Nay, verify; fc
. . there is no good sense or sound logic in th
~ n argument. 1t is becoming very fashions
Bile among the great (2 and wealthy, to d
d a great many bad things. But are minis
s. ters, editors and teachers, the men whol
is God holds most responsible for the publ
e. sentiments that prevail in christian coul
r. 2; try, to give their sanction to such abom
u nable practices, either by indulging tt
n vice in their own families, or by maintain
IS ing perfect silence upon the subject?
st answer nay. This may be thought stror
he language for such subject; but the ma
Of that will look seriously into the matte
N weigh it in the scales of moral truth; e
a. a. anime into the nature of human vanit,
~ ~ consider the weakness of our poor fall,
to nature, and its tendencies to evil VIII,
he properly excited, will, think, come to tt
same conclusion.
I'd In conclusion, l have one word for mot
at ers. When you start your little girls
st IS. six to twelve years old to the Seminary,
,s ", Academy, to school, for their own credi
oc = sake, leave their hoops at home. Ii y
h had my position few weeks, and COT
see the many inconveniences it subje
Zip your little daughters to, to wear hoops
ne the school-room, your face would often
no crimsoned with confusion; at any rate
k ,S' often puts me to the blush to think Il
nh mothers should have so little common
Ok shall | say sense, or decencya