Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-10-06


Under this caption the Round Table dis
cusses with vehement earnestness ''the I'M
bounded extravaganza Of the women" There
is no sign of the times, it declares, more full
of dread omen to the nation. "Their reckless
desire for prodigal display is both shameful
and astounding. They riot in wanton waste,
seemingly without a thought for propriety or
decency. 1t is disgrace to the taste of the
country. a dishOnor to the men who have so
recently died on battle fields, and rcproach
to every woman in the land who in any way
countenanceS the wicked contagion The
vilest and the purest appear side by side on
the street, in the social assemblage, and at
public gatherings, tinseed alike in gilt and
garnish."
among the looked for results of the war,
remarks the Round Table, sit was hoped
that the country would be purged of slavish
obedience to the mandates of Partisan mode
and Its attendant extravaganza. Twice every
| year the followers of so-called fashion were
wont to attend at special displays of the mil
liners and modiStes. and learn there what they
| were to wear the ensuing season. Many OF
| the most refined i'll the land thought it no dis
| grace to seek instruction i'll the arts Of French
conference.-the are in reality the makers OF
| the fashions that are SO lavishly adopted in
| this country.
with scarcelya thought they yielded subser-
| vience to 9 land wholly alien to us in morals.
| religion, political and social life, and, not the
least of all, in climate. But it did not seem
that so much Of imitation, reckless waste, and
useless display, could possibly survive the sad
discipline of a great war. And when our
literature came out of the ordeal clothed with
nobler life and sturdier form, it gave cause for
hope that the taste and habits of the women
OF the land would also be of a purer and more
provident character. How deusive was the
hope the wild designations Of the past summer.
and the rush at the recent displays of the
fashion mongers, too well attest. There is.
indeed, danger before us, and every interest
demands that it be fairly met before it shall be
too late
1t commences a spirited article with this
solemn admonition to the women of America
which they do, indeed need to ponder:
''Do the women of the country understand
whittier these things lead-upon what rock
their foolish extravaganza will wreck them
1t can be nothing short of hetairism and the
breaking up of the laws of social life. The
bubble cannot fill too far without collaps-
ing III shame and sorrow. Marriage will be
out Of the question. and French life will be
upon us with all Its eNcCSSeS W omen Will be
their own destroyers if this thing continues
Already really decent and tasteful women are
ashamed to appear with any display, lest their
character be lnisinterpreted. The fashions, as
prescribed i'll France, are caught up by our
own profigatcs who watch for the openings
in the spring and autumn most faithfully.
All along our streets the dissipated and
shameless appear side by side with the pure
and respectable. There is no sign to distin-
guish the one from the other, for both worship
at the French Moloch. If those who call
themselves decent would be insured against
insult, they must attire themselves in more
moderate garb, and leave to the dcbascd and
eXtravagant the tawdry hauntings Of those ser
vile individuals who claim to have the latest
Partisan styles. But, if they persist in their
toppery, they must not be surprised if the re-
suit be ruin and sorrow. Already the cities
are nursing the terrible plague of French life
until the good old simplicity and modesty of
American women seem passing away. fit is
desirable that the evil shall become general
the women of the land have only to continue
their present foolish system of expenditure
and dress