Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-01-25
THE REIGN OF FASHION.

We find in a late New York paper short
report of a lecture on Fashion, recently deliy-
cred in that city, by a lady of some celebrity
We copy portions of it, as illustrative of the
tyranny CT custom over our actions -
The reign of fashion may be said to have
begun with the human race. Fashion has al
ways played a more conspicuous part in the
| affairs of mankind than the law, and a
most tremendous tyrant. Its omnipotent in
fuence is everywhere. 1t controls the shape
of our cradles and the shape of our coffins it
presldes at the table, it regulates the toilet,
IN fact 1t operates in every daily action. Lord
Byron said that the French were accurSed Of
fashion, but fashion with them extended only
to dress, while with the English it is the alpha
and omega of everything. England and the
United States are the two nations where fash
ION holds the greatest sway, even in morality
and religion. Even the very Gospel must be
tricked out in gold and the finest velvet, or
no reliance could be placed in it's efficacy to
take people to heaven. Fashion has driven
out of the language many coarse and vulgar
terms. Libertine and hbertinsm now gal
liant and gallantry. A man intoxicated is now
slightly elevated. a tipsy man is only obliv
ions. Fashion has done everything but make
men ard women happy. Ben johnson was not
much beyond the mark when he spoke of the
pains of his Satanic Majesty's regions being
pastme in comparison with those of people of
fashion. Peter the Great thought that the
changes in fashion were made by the tailors,
and wondered that the nobility would submit
to their whims. The Fashion had once exist
ed in France of wearing point lace on the
shoes. No one could present himself in COM
pany without three and half yards of lace on
either 81 oe. This fashion was contemporary
with that of the long peaked shoes in Eng
land. People laugh at savages who wear in
gotS of gold in their noses but why is a gold
ring in the nose more ridiculous than gold
rings in women's ears !? Large quilted shoes
We're used by the Earl Of Anjou to hide de-
formed feet, and they soon became the fashion
in France. The Empress Isabella, during
siege, had sworn not to change her clothing
hefole the siege was ended. The siege lasted
over three years, at the end OF which time the
linen OF the Empress had become rather yell
low. In this way had arisen the fashion of
Isabella linen. Isabella linen is worn even
now, but is not at all fashionable. The long,
beautiful hair of Louis XIV. had caused the
Introduction of perukes. Fashion has been
called The creature and goddess of woman
but was there anything about women more ri
dlculous than many things about men? The
fashion OF tight pantaloons had made its ap-
pearance about the same time as the fashion Of
small bonnets. One man had dressed in tight
clothes to exhibit his fine form, and every
BODY initiated his example, whether they were
OF good figure not. Man had q fashion in
politics which he changed about three times as
often as q woman did her bonnet. The Vicar
of Bray had held his place during the stormy
days OF Henry the Eighth and three of his sue
cesSors, by turning Catholic or Protestant, ac-
coIding to the religion of the monarch When
he was reproved with this, he replied that he
had lived up to his principles, which were to
remain always Vicar of Bray. The ancient
Roman ladies used to paint and chalk in ex-
treme profusion. Some were afraid to leave
the house in the rain lest the chalk on their
faces should be removed In the matter of |
expense, the ladies of former days went ahead
OF the ladies of the present day. In Eliza
beth's day ladies dyed their hair all colors |
Queen Elizabeth's hair were red, which. con- |
sequently, became the fashionable color. La
dies wore heels on their shoes so high as to |
set them on their toes. During those days |
hoops were worn, but the hoops of the present |
day were Insignificant compared with them. |
In l34O ladies wore hoops sixteen or seventeen |
feet at the bottom, and nearly as broad at the |
top. Two OF such ladies would have filled an I
omnibus to suiocation. She considered that /
he lives OF hundreds Of women were saved by
.he introduction of hoops, which were far
preferable TO the old plan of six or seven stiff
oetticoats. There We're hundreds of people in
heir graves at present over whom coroner's
ury could find verdict of s:ded of petit
coats" 1t was the only fashion which seemed
o have originated in common sense. Nothing
vas more shocking to them than the sale of
beautiful girls in the bazaars of Turkey yet
hese girls were as proud of being bought as
he purchaser was of buying them. People
'xclaim against this as shocking but is not
he system of disposing of daughters in matri-
nony to rich husbands on account of their
wealth, as bad The half nude system of la
lies here, would be shocking to eastern ladies.
Within the mansions of the fashionable are of
en- seen The greatest works of art and genius
anging on the walls simply because they cost
vast sum of money and it is fashionable to
ave them. Fashion is the torment of nature.
MANAGING AND FEEDING WORKING OXEN
)Xen working q stone drag, on the foot of
DloW. on the sled tOnpue cart Suire or