Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-02-15
women do up their hair with soft clay, in !

women do up their hair with soft clay, in
the shape of pyramid, and then they are
dressed for company. In Tehuantepec full
dress is pair of cotton gloves. L have
heard it intimated that in some of the Fer
ritories revenue stamp is used for Summer
wear-but this borders SO nearly on the IN
delicate that / am 10th to believe it. Now,
say [ don't want to be here when these
things happen. The present styles are
sufficiently distracting When a modest
man, walking with downcast eyes sees IN
front Of him pair of white stockings and
things approaching, and Indignantly lifts
his gaze to rebuke the proprietor thereof,
he is met by Il head of hair resembling
keg of lager behind, and frizzledchlcken-
on a-rainyday i'll front, the threatening
appearance of which Is calculated to subdue
a man of ordinary courage. L am glad big
hoops are going out. They were nuisance.
They kept man continually turning his
back whenever the wearer stood on an ele-
Walton, or got into an omnibus, or at
tempted to pass through narrow place !;
and then it made him nervous to see
one of them try to sit down comfortably.
1t reminded him OF turkey-hen going
to roost. [ never liked those trailing skirts
for walking. They outraged all the ideas
of cleanliness which are associated with
q lady but give me the trailing skirts in
preference to these looped up ones, in dry
weather. The latter will do we'll around
the wash tub but the little boys ought to
run after one i'll the streets. If you hap
pen to have plump and pretty calves,
whose business is that, l should like to
know? Do you want every blackguard in
town discussing them? And oh, if they are
not plump and pretty, and if the feet hang
ing to 'em are like little canoes, and the
ankles are not straight, whe-w The
works of nature are beautiful-sometimes
and sometimes not but they are always
wonderful. We sometimes speak of ma
lures lavishness, and sometimes of her
economy, and sometimes we see both illus
trated at one sight. We see a woman walk
ing and we are struck with the economy of
legs and the lavishness of feet, and we Won
der both at nature and the woman's taste
in displaying it. Next to modesty, taste in
dress is the crown of fashion. But what is
taste i'll one, is want of it in another. The
I" fashion is never becoming to all alike.
Think Of woman with high forehead,
a very prominent nose, and receding chin,
wearing her hair plastered straight from her
60
waterfall, so tight that she can hardly shut
her eyes Then think of Il little squatty
woman, with big hoops, Topped skirts and a
pair of No. shoes on, padding down
pavement, under the same head gear !
Could any stretch of poltenesS induce a
man to say that was pretty, or becoming
You needn't say anything about the mems
fashions. They are ridiculous sometimes
too. But they are of no consequence any
way.
Now, L want to give some advice, in con-
clusion, to the young ladies. By following
every fashion and adopting every new
tangled notion which emanates from the
diseased society of other countries, you
will lose those characteristics which have
distinguished your mothers, and made the
name of d Southern lady synonymous with
delicacy, dignity, purity and grace. The
fiery ordeal through which they have
passed, has served but to add to their re-
tinement, although they are denied the ele-
gancies of former years. They deserve and
receive the love and respect of all who are
capable of approaching devotion, fortitude
and self-sacrifce. Their example will be
invaluable to you. In all the relations of
life stick to the standards which have been
recognized ut home, and keep alive and
transmit to your children the virtues and
graces which constitute your peculiar hori-
tage.