Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-09-02
Female Morally in European High Life.

A late London letter thus alludes to a
subject to which significant prominence
is given by the French and English
press:
The French senate, having had a Sc
cret discussion concerning the preva-
lence of immortality, particularly of
ceedings in pamphlet. 1t is declared
in this official report that morality was
never at a lower ebb in France than at
present, although there may be more
decency. Vice, in losing some of the
grossness which it had in the time OF
Louis XIV, has gained in attractions.
The chief evil just now is the spread of
vice among the higher classes, who are
now, actually, in dress, manner, and
other more serious respects, initiating
the women of the street. The fashiona-
BILE Lais is now an institution, and she
may court the attention of persons In
good society. Such is the French SEN
ates report, which is unaccompanied by
any remedial proposition. But in the
current number of the Revue, M. For
cade declares that this result--general
demoralization- invariably, in history,
the result of the destruction of the po-
litical liberties of people. If people
cannot have freedom in one way, they
will seek it in another and perhaps lille
ultimate way. The London Times
has heavy editorial on the subject, in
which it admits that London is affected
in precisely similar way with Paris.
1t particularly censures the lowness of
the dresses in the neck, which are to be
seen everywhere in the best companies,
and calls loudly upon the. half-dozen
distinguished ladies of fashion to alter
and reform their dresses, in which cases
the reform will descend through all So
cial grades.
The Times does not name the ladies
of the English Court, though doubtless
it had in its eye the large photographs
which aoorn the shops of Regent street,
representing the Princess Alexandria,
Helena, and others in very liberal dress
es, and contain duchesses, ladies and
others who are still more inclined to the
old pictures style. The Times will
thunder in vain against Court costumes.
The Saturday Review handles the sub.
iect with great boldness. cit is very
important, it says, ''to mark with the
utA1Oob PICCiolOH, NAhe 10 LILO CAetC'
character of the prevailing vice of oul
times. In the days of our early Georges,
and the annals of the Court OF Louis
XIV, a sort of tacit conformation was
afforded to harlotry an ercelSis, or rather
in ercelsissimis. Lady Cover, one OF
the best of her sex, was ON visiting
terms with George IFS. mistresses. =
Kings have dispensed with the mai
tresse en- tire in these moral days, but we
have our doubts, whether for all sub
stantial purposes, we have made an adj
vance.
A century or two centuries ago, har.
lots adopted the manners, the language
and general bearing of virtue; among
ourselves, on the contrary, it is virtue
and matronly honor and maidenly pu
rity which think proper to initiate the
dress, the habits and not seldom the
language of hetserism. The balance is
against us.
One more French moral: The En-
press the other day visited the prison o.
st. Lazarde, and even that division
thereof in which unfortunate women
predominant. The scandal was fearful
Some severe words passe in high quar-.
tiers concerning Lutetia's attention tc
one class of her children, and circular
was sent to every newspaper in Paris
saying, Your are officially requested tc
publish no details of the Empress visit
to st. Lazarde."