The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-02-08
Extravaganza of the Women.

EXLraVagance OF Ine w ouleu'
In an article on retrenchment, thin.
imperiously demanded by these times, th
Charlottesville Chronicle, with a reckless
bravery unparalleled in the late war
makes an onslaught upon female dress
1t declares that the number and quality
of products woman has on her back ii
prodigious. It enumerates all the articles
of the female wardrobe with peculiarly
that can only be the result of long and
careful observation. It says that, to rig
out one young woman, there must be ar
elegant pair OF shoes, silk stockings, kid
gloves, bonnet, which is world in it
self; pomade, teeth plugged, combs, hair
pins, hair-net, rouge, starch, sozodont
cologne, earrings, brooch, chain, crino
line and linen, flannel, fugcr-rings, FAM
bracelet, watch, collar, cuffs, parasol, and
the main dress itself. Add cloak, furs
over-shocs, sea-foam, balmoral, lace, pock-
et-handkerchief, gold pencil, port-monaie,
brade; lace, cord, buttons, flowers, feath-
ers, beads, spanges, ribands, roscates,
buckles, furbelows, tucks, fflounces, en-
broidery, ETC., etc.
The Chronicle demands to know wheth-
er women were intended for all this erna-
mentation. 1t asserts that one-third oftheir
life is taken up in buying, preparing and
talking over their dresses; that among
themselves the subject of dress is almost
the exclusive subject of conversation,
which cannot be true in the neighborhood
of Charlottesville-fo some days at least
after the appearance of this article. 1t is
the opinion of the Chronicle that about
one-fourth of the time of the human race,
and, perhaps, one-fourth of their earnings,
are devoted to the dressing of women 1t
is especially indignant about bonnets, and
insists that the Roman ladies never
dreamed of Ebonnetsa 1t believes that a
respectable female may be dressed, for
one year, for about $3.50. At least $780,
OOOOOo q year would be saved to the
country by the enforcement ofsumptuary
laws, compelling the women to be eco
nomical in dress. In short, we should
Judge from the Chronicle article, that
"Mans dress is of mans life thing apart
IT'S womans whole existence
We trust the women will now proceed
at once 70 reform, retrench, pay off the
national debt, and save the country
Nothing of the kind can be expected OF
the men. We have always regarded the
female sex, compared to the male, as a
cheap institution A mans hat, coat,
breechcs and boots, cost more in general
than woman's clothing. Moreover, the
mel. drink whislSey, smoke segars, chew
tobacco and eat voraciously. There are
as many male as female spendthrifts
among the young men and the young
women of fashion. When women marry;
they gencrally-outside the great cities
at least-cast off their extravagant follies
and other nonsense; whereas, men ex.
change their jnvinilc wild oats for polh
tics and other expensive luxurics that
cost the country good deal more than
all the dress expenditures of the women
Politicians involve country in debt ant
war, and then the women are called upor
to go bareheaded, and dress like Poca
hontas, in order to foot the bill.
We concur, however, in the vital i'm
portance of retrenchment by both sexes
Men and women are both spending
great deal of money uselessly. TherI
is an immense outlay upon superauities
and unless greater economy is exercised
the times, hard as they are, will become
infinitely worse. No one should thinl
now of appearances. There is as mucl
necessity now for rigid economy as il
the Confederate times. The ladies ther
showed themselves capable of self-denia
in dress, table and furniture, and they
have only to realize that the necessity
for rctrenchment is as great as ever t.
set an example that the mon will do wei
to follow. VI
The Philadelphia Press thinks tina
universal peace will prevail in the worl(
during the present year-that, metaphor
ically speaking, the Templcssof Janus vii
be closed-but it is evident that the pre-
vailing desire is against war. The Brit
ish policy of Lord Palmerstenanfor tn