Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-02-10
Lola nIonrez, Lecture on Fashion.

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brsted lecture upon Fashion" at Chspin's Hal
last evening drew together one Of the largest ant
most fashionable audiences that have ever gather
ed in our city. Throughout the city there was the
greatest possible curiosity to see tbs wonder
full woman who, at home and abroad, had played SC
| important part in the political and intellectual
history Of the times, and large number Of ladie:
were present, notwithstanding the storm.
Her subject was one calculated to bring out heI
powers to good advantage, and with wit and wis
dom most happily combined, she held the atten
ton of the audience from beginning to end Of the
discourse 10 her spicy, witty and eloquent style
she drew picture of the Whims and cOnceits Of
fashionable people, the interest of which was much
heightened by her pleasing delivery, her graceful
department and her toned voice.
She commenced by stating that Fashion had
began its sway in the Garden of Eden, and origi-
mated in the follies and sins Of mankind. Fashion
was, at this early stage Of mans existence, pvim.
Tive affair." and II needed but the twisted foliage o
the trees, or the rough skins Of wild besz e 80
fabricate the garments in vogue. The only rouge
then used was the natural bloom ofthe cheek SIC
dyes and cOlOrs were creations of later date to
spoil the pure beauty of Ewes daughters. Fashion
is now our king and queen. 1t regulates our
clothing our sleeping and our eating, and our COM
forts, happiness and health must all bow TO the
mandates Of this OvsrruIing power, It regulates
our intercourse one with another in this world as
well as another
Lord Byron says we accuse the French Of friv-
FF,ar, oh 20
but this only extends to their dress, whereas the
English are governed by it in all habits of life
Old friends well chosen and worthy, are put aside
for younger and more fashionable ones and in no
portion Of the wOrli do piety and religion depend
more upon Fashion than in England and America.
Fashion has had her uses too, in rendering ObsO-
lete. low and vulgar words. Where a man was
once ''eheat" and "knave," he now merely
'gets the best of the bargain" and instead of be-
ing Intoxicated" "tipsey," or drunk" the man
now goes home or sits at the table in an ''obivOus
state"
Fashion determines what shall be esteemed or
revered, and the calf will be wOrshped because it
is golden one. Fashion, in short, does every
thing except make people happy; this it can never
satisfy and p'ease the soul The beautiful belle of
Filth Avenue has smile for all her friends, but it
is only the fashionable smile, which will not be
found upon her lips In the privacy Of her own
room, but there she will be making wicked re-
marks about her acquaintance.
Peter the Great thought tailors were the inven-
tors Of Fashion. Another celebrated monarch
fbourbt fbat barbers vvsrs the fo4bars ~ Il For
having received wound upon bis head, and being
in consequence, obliged to have his hair cropped
close to lis head. in q few weeks there was not
full head of hair in all Europe. Laughter +
Charles " passed laws restraining Fashion. At
one time in England peaked shoes tied up to the
knees with chains were fashionable, but why are
rings in womans ears more sensible than in
mems noses? Indeed the lecturer thought that
rings in the noses OF married men might be ser.
vicable for neglected wives. Laughter and ap-
plause Certainly such fashion would be pre-.
ierable, and much more convenient than the pres.
ont Que of beard and moustaches. [Applausel
Fashions were invented for the purpose of hid
ing somebody's defects. So Beau Brummel, when
he fell into disgrace with George ", resOrted to
high, stiff white neck cloths to put the princes
neck ties out of fashion, and thereby sstonshed
all st. James street. Everybody followed the
fashion, so that when Brummel Aed from England
be left upon his table piece Of paper upon which
were these words-'S tarch makes the man.
Laughter and applause.l 1t did, it seems, make
the necks of men, and the divines Of this day follow
the Brummel fashion.
Fashion las been called the Goddess of women,
and the men accuse the women ofbeng its servants,
and yet they are as much addicted to it as the wo-
men. Tight pantsloons came into vogue with the
Suall bonnets, and the pants were the worse ofthe
two. [Laughterl It was fearful sighttO see the
crowds of crOOked-legged men who peOpIsd our
streets. [Laughter.l Then the ladies could laugh
at the men, provided they could overcome their
dread that the pipe stems would break under the
weight of the bodies. [Laughter.l
Men have a fashion Of changing their principles
In politics as often as women do their bOnnets -
A man is up to-day down tomorrow, and the next
day thrown out into the street like an oldhat
In early days the ladies' dyed their hair red be-
cause the Queens vas red by nature. In expense
the ancisnts far surpassed the modern, and even
hoops now are nothing compared to the hoops ofa
former age. In l74O these were worn a. large As
seventeen and eighteen feet in circumference at
the bottom and nearly large at the top, SO that
each lady looked like an inflated balloon ready to
60 up. Only one Ofthem calling could promenade
Broadway at time, and two would Gil an Omni-
bus to sufiocstion. The hoops and high heels Of
this day are precisely like those of the Elizabeth
ian age But they have their use, for what is more
injurious to lady than to load her.doWn with If
teen or twenty pestieOats. Many women now in
their graves lost their lives by the petticoat disease
Laughter and applause The little feet Of the
Chinese women arose from the THAT one En-
press had little feet and all the rest must Of course
crowd their feet to corresponding lttleness.
The selling Of Rne and beautiful girls in the Cir
eassian markets for slavery shocks US. but here in
this country we see charming and beautiful girls
disposed Of in the American market of fashion to
the man who can command the most money. East
ern ladies show great skill in exhibiting their
charms by concealing them, and baving much to
Imagination, and Shakespeare says fashion steals
away many of the beauties of women.
It lis great fashion to pretend enjoyment The
beautiful negro melodies Of this country are as
much admired and more appreciated in Italy
than the Italian opera is here. Society with its
fashionable ,whims has. no real enjoyment in the
unadorned beauties Of nature, and the fashionable
man does not appreciate the ins paintings which
adorn his walls although be pretends to be judge
Of them.
Fashion allows no one to have opinions Of their
owu ifthey would be fashionable, but Byronla laugh
ed at it, Dean Swift ridlculed it, while Addison and
Hale denounced it.
ButOurSpaes will not allow "a longer report
The fair lecturer closed with some wholesome ad'
vice and few incidents, aud was loudly and
heartily applsnded at the close,