Smyrna times., 1861-09-19
Female EXtravagance.


The general monetary embarrassment will
enforce economy in all our homes, and many
luxurlss will be surrendered which have
hitherto been deemed almost indispensable TO
comfort. The wonderful prosperity of our
country has led TO extravagant habits of living,
fatal alike TO republican and Christian simpli
city, and 1t may be hoped that adversely will
teach wise lessons. The Springfield RepuJli-
con has some plain remarks on female extray.
agance:
" This is hard subjuct for US to touch upon,
especially with words Of faut-fndng. wo.
man does look so pretty when we'll dressed,
that, unless some startling developments have
rendered 1t Imperative, we have RETAINED from
saying word against the extravagant outlays
thai are now made for female dress. We think
that we do not I" stretch the truth " in stating
that the dress of wGmen costs two dollars now
where 1t Gid one ten years ago. 1t is now silk
every where. or an extensive fabric of wool
and cotton Is universally at discount The
shop girl stands in silk behind the counter, and
as the shop girl wears the dress that the fush.
lonable woman did ten years ago, the latter is
obliged TO adopt fabric of a more costly char.
acter, so that where the dollar silk was once
tiqUe will alone suffice.
Ten to twenty dollars are now paid for a
hat, where five and ten dollars were once con-
sIdeTed extravagant. 1t is thus 10 every de-
partment Of female dress. This tendency TO
overdress was once considered an American
Vulgartyi but there is no lack OF extravaganza
abroad now, AID societies have already been
formed IN European continental cities for its
suppression.
Tho singular fact has been pretty widely
published that in Boston, during the past yea T,
the number of marriages have been reduced
twenty per cent from the previous year
Now. we have not the slightest doubt that this
fact grows out Ofthe conscious ina biity of Young
men, starting in life and business TO support
wives in a manner consonant with the present
acquisitions of social life. Girls must keeI
house, and keep it in style, or they must board
in a costly boarding house, and dress in man
nsr corresponding to that entertained by the
daughter of the millionaire.
There is no more of he occupation of The
} humble home at first, no more of the self
denial by which the wife becomes the share
of the young husbands poverty and struggles
no more of ada platien of life to circumstances
by which lAe wife grows up with the husband
: Tito fortune but marriage must now bring q
fortune. or il may not be INDUCED. Ia othe
. words marriage has become a costly and rar
luxury, to be had only for money, and no
that natural and unrestricted connection G
: accordant love and lives which is necessar
g TO the happiness Of both man and woman, an,
essential TO the purity and progress of society
This puts serious face upon the matter
very serious face. In the history of every ma
L ton, that which has operated as q bar to III
: marriage of the sexes has been the nurse
e vice. A man who has really made up his min
. that he cannot afford TO be married, and tha
:, he must lay aside all hopes of it for years, o
least, is in q dangerous position. He has los
" some OF the most powerful restraints from vic
y that have every Influenced him and while
a adopts a course which fits him for the pure pleai
ures Of home and connubial life, the "ungalbere
- roses still cling 10 the ancestral tree" an
/ wither where they hang. However much me
/, may feel the cost of woman's extravaganza
a and however little they can afford it, woma
feels il still more aud ca afford it still less.
The general idea Of living is altogethC
i above the mark of Christian prudence
10 sound social policy. The prudent reduclio
g. of the cost of living indirectly increases ii
n prosperity of business. Men complain tht
they cannot make money. and yet they eaE
y money enough. Five hundred dollars save
he from an annual expenditure of $2,O 900 is a snu
n, little sum 10 lay up every year, and there al
l. few families expsnding this sum who won
re- not be just as well, nay, better Off with the n
le duction.
to We would by no means exempt men fro
n the charge Of extravaganza, but we do n
think their expenses have been increased
the degree ofthose Of their wives and daugl
o. iers. II is hard denying women anything, b
if they are true women they will ask nolhir
10 unreasonable.