The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-10-09
:sCOLUMBIh.
Tuesday Mofning, October 8, 1856
Fashions for the South.

w NNS 1AAoA'J VI Ooh SNCA'oAASoNS
copying-and that to the extent of
one or two columns-the fashions
from Paris and New York. We have
occasionally inserted an article of
this kind, but it was more as an item
that might possibly interest our lady
readers, than from the idea that the
women of the South, at this time,
would seek to follow all the vagaries
OF fashion, which may emanate from
the rich and extravagant centre in
this country or from Paris.
\ young lady, the other day, in
New York, had her wardrobe de-
stroyed, and claimed from the Com
pany in which it was insured, about
as well as we can remember, some
S24, 600 about two thirds Of its orr
ginal cost. The "opening day" in
New York was blazoned forth in the
journals of that city, and extensively
copied throughout the South. While
some fair readers may have looked
upon it as mere article of news, we
believe very few of the true women
of the South care much for such
matters at the present time We
quote paragraph on this subject
from the Nashville Union and A2ne1i-
can:
''Whatever propriety there may
have been heretofore in conforming
to the arbitrary laws of fashion,
which have their rise, not so much in
q correct standard of taste as in
the pecuniary interests of mantua-
makers and shop-keepers, the reason
does not apply with us now as then.
AS people, we have experienced a
very great change in our condition,
and good sense, as we'll as good mo-
rails, requires that our habits should,
in a great measure, change with them.
In this respect, then, that which is
likely to prove interesting to Northern
women ought not to interest South
ern women. There is scarcely wife
or % daughter in this bereaved and
desolated land whose husband or
father has not suffered in estate ma
terially by the war, whilst many are
hopelessly ruined Even the few who
are so fortunate as to have q compe-
tency left, have kindred and friends
on every hand III constant need of
their assistance. The South may be
aptly termed a land of widows and
orphans. Thousands, who, few
years since, were esteemed wealthy,
are now poor. Feeble women are
without the means of support
less orphans are without the means
OF education. Added to this, is the
dlscouraging prospect before us
short crops, heavy taxes, and an op-
pressive Government"
And this is Strue-mournfullv true
to an extent that never was antici-
pated by our people. The wealth Of
New York, which enables it's posses
sors to basl in the magnificent folly
and tinsel splendor of ever varying
fashions, it must be remembered,
has, to large extent, been built
upon our impoverishment; it is not
meet, therefore, that we should ape
their fashions or their ways. This
Southern land of ours is in deep
affiiction, as the sable dress of every
other lady one meets in the street tes-
titles; the poor we have always with
us, but how largely increased is that
class by the widows and orphans now
scattered throughout every Southern
community. Splendor in dress or
gayety of fashion is out of place in
these communities, and as it has
been generally, thus far, so let it
continue, until peace shall be per-
iected, prosperity fully restored to
our stricken and suffering section,
and until our mourning robes shall
be laid aside, after they have, for a
decent term Of years, testified to the
respect we entertained for the gallant
dead. We feel assured that our
Southern women know their duty too
we'll in this respect to follow after the
giddy fashions of the shoddy aristo-
cracy of New York.
ELECTIONS To-Day Elections take