Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-10-22
LADIES' HATS AND DRESSES.

To the Editor Of the Wing:
Dear Sir:-Your article about the upon women
ana CHILDREN was very good, for thee was not little
truth under us satire. but does not seem to have
occurred to you that the population of Richmond has
very muc changed in the last few years. and that ,he
new infusion may madepeopie moe cautious about
LADDERS aud boarders Than they used W be- yield 10
mo man il INV admiration for tue ladies', and ain very
well assured that many OF the ADDITIONS made 10 our
society by TIE war have been Advantageous 10 US ior
thev nave inc eased NUMBER OF nrs families resid
ing here and helped 10 maintain the elevated toae
of our social circles in spite OF the demorahzng inni
ences OF the unIes- -
Nevertheless am com PEELED to believe that the i'm
mense increase OF our population has Deer attenoed
with the influx Of characters VINO DO 10 credit 70 us
and that these characters are not all Males. were
90 believe the stores told me- sould cay that malt the
head vomen i'll the south were concentrated here, ana
thar they are dispersed in all parts oil the city ana
among all classes and conditions OF people, Sacn AN
opinon 90 not for moment entertain, Out TINS mueh
1 .iil say Mr. Editor-and trust you will pardon an
old man Tor taking the berty-that the present sye
of ladies' mats dresses is enough 70 oewilder any
one Who trusts to spectacles Not that OBJECT W
hats for ladeshey are very pretty and az the pres
ent extrayagant price of bonnets they are economical
but what 90 object 70 Is tue way they are trimmed
with ali manner Of gaudy Doands, flowers and stream
es which adaed 10 the new fashion OF lrizz!ing, curl
mo and "a sung the hair, makes almost every lady you
ses a complete pozzls For my part confess frankly
that am unable 70 tell one kind OF lady from an
other, unless personally acquainted or there Is
black or some other modest dress TO guloe me. In
fact il sems 10 me that every day the dresses are made
moro and more TO correspond with the Jaunty ana
eaudy hat SO that spite vi the pressure OF The times
Snd thu blockade ladies appear more flashing and con-
suicuous than before the war.
This may be the latest Paris fashion, for aught
know or II may have originated among the new people
here think it dangerous style Tor seiy 80 infested
With adyenturers and Tutians as Richmond Is, and
rather out of place and in bad taste, considering the
number of our sons brothers and other relatives who
arc continually being sain The precious blood which
"a daily split in battles and skirmshes ought 70 remind
ma of the shortness of lie and the conempubieness OF
H. vanities; but il seems have just the opposite ell
feet and that is not much to our credit as Christian
and sensible people.
Rat, Mr. Editor, / have said enough. Perhaps
Judge harshly OF the new order of things in this city
where hs We lived so many years and in which have
taken so much PRIDE We old people cling to old hab-
ts and old styles and the war; with its subversons Of
society and It's distraction of ancient landmarks every
where is vel! calculated to Iiase ps dscontented But
really do think our ladies would consult their best in
teress If they would choose sober ooors and observe
in every respect the rules of modesy and good taste in
their apparel.
Very respectfully, sir,
your obedient servant