Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-05-01
From the Metropolitan Record.
The Wearing of the Grew.

Editor of the Metropolitan Record
IL see it stated that General Gilmore
secured as a personal favor the pardon of Gen
eral Elliott who defended Fort Sumter against
his siege. There is true magnanimity shown in
this act, and probably if such course had been
generally pursued it would have been more like
ly to concliate the Southern people and recon
cle them to the ''so-called Union than the
petty prosecutions and humliations which men
of small souls seem to delight in inficting upon
! them. This spirit is shown by objecting to the
honors we delight to pay to our heroes both lily
ing and dead, our holding them up to the rising
generations as models for their imitation, and
taking measures to preserve the records Of their
deeds for posterity. 1t even stoops to aonounce
the wearing OF the grey, so general amongst
us, as savOring of trea son. and intended to show
defiant, vindictive feeling Northern writers
gTavely comment on our costume, and wisely
conclude that there is no evidence that we feel
either repentance or shame for the acts of the
laie rebels One satiiicany suggests that we
Fought to be made to give up wearing grey,
and don the blue, perhaps instead Of sack-cloth
and ashes.
The ladies openly proclaim their partiality for
grey, and even as mere matter Of taste prefer
1t to the gaudy, Haunting colors, SO fashionable
among the Northern ladies' 1t is one of those
neutral shades susceptible of many varied con
trasts which never offend the eye and seldom
chosen by those who seek to attract the passing
gaze.
There is sometimes much paint in word
mlsapplled, or foreign ldlom too closely trans
lated On late visit to New Orleans. noticing
the masculine style of dress prevailing > among
ladies, postillion robes loaded with glass bugles,
beads and tinsel, jockey hats ornaulented with
barnyard feathers, etc., was reminded of the
expression used by a French gentleman in
speaking OF one who wore glaring, i'll assorted
colors, Madame dresses too loud" [ felt
some pleasure in learning that chaste colors,
delicate patterns, robes dlstingue by their sim
plicity and absence Of tawdry ornament, and
modest bonnets were known as Confederate
styles
But apart from such considerations, one color
Is endeared to us by host OF holy recollections
we cannot forget the years when we made up
the grey 4or the quiet seepers who still
wear it.
To attempt to prescribe the color would only
intensity this natural feeling, as was the case in
Scotland after the rebellion Of 45, when the
wearing OF the tartan was made a penal ohense,
and even the white rose was looked upon with
suspicion, since it was one of the emblems
chosen by the adherents Of Prince Charles,
falsely nick-named the 'pretender. The
| lingering remnant Of Jacobinis1n and i'll will to
| Cuc Iloust vi AIaUQvGr. was enectuaily CXlln-
guished when George " had the magnanimity
| to appear in Edinburg in the lately prescribed
tartan, and to erect a monument in St. Peter
! to Cardinal York, the last of the Stuarts.'
With all his faults there was something
knightly in the character OF George the Fourth
he was capable of comprehending that chival-
rous feeling which inspired the genius of Wal
ter Scott and others, which made the Scottish
people cherish the memory of those who had
been foes to bis house; while they had no in
tention of rising again, or Of doing aught to
endanger the stability Of his throne, OF the
peaceful transmission Of his scepter.
Alexander recognized the stability Of soul
| which made Porus demand to be treated like
a king" and thus converted an enemy into a
friend. When the Northern people manifest a
like spirit it may produce similar result, but
till then there can only be hollow truce, no
true peace between us. [ might here quote the
memorable words, If this be treason" etc.,
but our rulers may profit by the example.
1t has been seriously asked, ''Are the women
OF the South dangerous?' ?''-these lovers OF the
grey who so proudly grasp the hand and hos
pitably welcome all who have honorably worn
1t. Would they wish to see the flames Of war
again eakindled? Are they looking forward to