Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-10-05
The Riot of Women,

The following article from Tie Round
Table is calculated, we presume, espe-
cially for the meridian of New York
City, but its perusal will be interesting
to the women of Vermont:
There is no sign of the times more full
of dread omen to the nation than the I'M
bounded extravaganza of the women.
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 a disgrace to the taste of the country.
a dishOnor to the men who have so re-
Gently died on battle-felds, and re-
proach 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 gather
ings, tinseled alike in gilt and garnish.
There is no mark to distinguish between
the true and the false There seems to
be but one idol, at which all bow down,
and before which good sense and good
character are alike being sacrificed. In
the name of that refinement and econO-
my which ought to be the ennobling
characteristics Of American womanhood,
we call for the staying of this wild tide
of recklessneSs.
Among the looked for results Of the
war, it was hoped that the country
would be purged of slavish obedience to
the maNdates of Partisan monde, and it's
attendant extravaganza. Twice every
year the followers of sO-Called fashion
were wont to attend at special displays
of the millners ard mo8iSteS, and learn
there what they wel2 to wear the ensu-
ing season. Many of the most refined in
! the land thought it no disgrace to seek
instruction in the arts Of French cOur-
tesans-who are in reality the makers
of the fashions that are so slavishly
adopted in this country. With scarcely
thought they yielded subserviency to
land wholly alien to us in morals, re-
| ligion, 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 q great war, And when our literature
came out Of the ordeal clothed with
| nobler life and sturdier FORM 1t 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 delusive was the hope, the wild dis,
| sipltions of the past summer, and the
rush at the recent displays Of the fash.
/ rap mougers, too well attest. There is
indeed, danger before us, and every
interest demands that il be fairly met
before it shall be too late.
At the breaking-up OF the war, in the
spring, it did not seem possible that the
sorrow and des0lation of four years OF
conflict could be so entirely ignored as
to permit season of unexampled profit
gacy. What with half million mer
either dead or MANNED for life, and with
mourning at the inner or outer door o
every house in the land there was rea
son to expect that motives of propriety
if no other, would stay for time the
reviving Of any useless scenes of extra
vagance. But while the procession o.
death was yet fling past,-with Grip
pies, and bereaved homes, and sights
and sounds of pain on every hand,-th,
servility of borrowed fashion, and tn,
shamelessness of unaccountable riot, be
gan their round anew. We look bach
upon the season of pleasure now ended
| with shame and regret shame that tn,