Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-04-24
WOMEN N DRESS.

In the Atlantic Monthly for April (Which
NAV be had at Burrall's) there is a charm
ing little dialogue on the subject of "fe-
male dress" 1t is q subject that Sidney
Smith thought worthy Of a place in his
lectures, but even the witty Dean did not
treat the subject more exquisitely than does
this article in the Atlantic. although he
may be said to have anticipated many Of
the same sensible and well-put conclu.
sions. It is foolish and untruthful, he
says, to try and instill into the mind of q
young lady that dress is matter of no
importance, when she knows, and all the
world knows besides, that the suitability
Of q ribbon to a complexion, or the cut
and symmetry Of a dress, may make q
very serious difference practically as to the
she will marry, and indeed the whole
complexion Of her future life. But to say
this alone would also be the greatest Of
practical falsehoods, because only half the
real truth. Rather should she be instruct
ed that while real taste and beauty are
good in everything and worth study, yet
the beauties Of the mind. of thought, cul-
lure and good taste, are so much higher
and more excellent and exalted in their
effects upon all with whom we mingle,
that we must beware lest the lower beau
ties attract US from the higher. This is
the substance of the lecture Of the witty
but not less wise Sidney Smith on this
whole subject, and to this the dialogue in
the Atian.ie'S Chimney Corner conducts
US, only, we must say, by a much more
agreeable road than even Sidney Smith
himself. The Rev. Mr.. Crow6eld with
his study door open, is made to answer
the queries of four or FIVE well-educased'
rafting, high-bred young ladies, who dis
cuss in the most charming n the
claims Of dress on their time, their money,
their s,rength-where the fashions come
from, and the prevailing thought and
principle that lies at the back Of and
inspires each several style. from that
Of the French actresses and ballet dancers
70 the nun and the Quaker. The present
fashions, ten times more expensive and
fcke since the wal began. are shown on
the authority Of Dupin. About and Mich
elet, TO be the devices Of q set of fashion
able women in Paris, who contract debts
unknown to their husbands, and sign OBJ
legations paid by the sacrifice Of honor,
while the dspsi-naonde in New York is
trying to keep step with Paris.
On the other hand, it is held to be to
some extent as inspiring and exciting to
renounce dress and assume the garb of the
religieuse, initiate the dress Of the grave,
and fancy thus she is dead to the world,
and dress and beauty, when only indulg-
ing the passion of remuneration. The
Quakeress with chastened taste selects the
most agreeable shades and matches them
neatly, and thus comes round at last to a
new, bu: most interesting, beauty Of style.
And so the conclusion is arrived at that it
is neither wicked. nor silly, nor weak
minded, to like beautiful dress.
But Plato Cor, in truth, Socrases) comes
in here and tells Of ttro impersonations Of
beauty, believed in from the most ancient
times-the one lower and terrestrial, and
the other higher and celestial-one of the
body, and the other, infinitely more ex-
quisi,e, of the mind. The woman who
sacrifices self-respect, conscience, domestic
affection to love Of dress, loses the higher
beauty in the lower. A girl who sacri-
fees to dress all her time, money and
strength, to the neglect Of the cultivation
of her mind and heart, does the same.
Her fault is not the love Of beauty, but
putting the inferior kind before the higher.
ST. Paul does not forbid the love Of dress
or wearing Of gold; he only does forbid
that this should be the adjoining put in
place Of the beauty Of the heart, the orna-
ment of a meek and quiet spirit. These
are what are to be depended on for
beauty.