The Greene County Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 185?-1867, 1867-06-12
WHO SETS THE FASHIONS.

The religious press very generally an
imadvert upon the prevailing fashions
In female dress, We find in Brothcrg
Words, religious journal, the following
caustic words under the above heading
Whence comes the fashions Who
is 1t that DEGREES, month by mouth, the
style Of woman's apparel ruling the whole
sex, in tins regard, with sovereign sway !
Not the imperial Engenie, or other no.
BILE and high.bred danes, you, gentle
reader, may fondly snppose but un.
happy, dlsbonored women. the very
mention OF whom for yonr model IN any
way you would resent an insult. The
leadership OF fashion, says cotempor-
airy writer, is entirely in the hands OF
class of women who could not be ad
mitted into good society in any coun-
try who can never have the name Of
wife, and know none of the ties of tam>
lily these are the dictators whose dress,
equirage, and appointments give the law
to France, and thence to the CIVILIZED
world. Such was the confession of M
Dnpln, made in late speech before the
French Senate, and acknowledged, with
murmurs OF assent on all sides, to be the
truth This fact goes far to account
for the caprice and extravaganza of the
female fashions of the day. The women
who inaugurate them are what are called
iorettes in Paris-a class who are baser
than ordinary kept mistresses, and yet
who regard themselves as superior to
ordinary women of evil life. On them
the millonaries who only care for the
passing pleasure of few weeks, lavish
fortunes. For many years there was a
severely-fought battle between the Tor.
cites and the ladies of Paris as to who
should set the tashions-but as wealth
and extravaganza increased, the harlots
triumphed, and now every change in the
fashions is set by them, This accounts
for the extravaganza, the eoarseness, and
yulgarity Of the chignons, the short
dresses, and the naked breasts which are
now all the rage These strumpets are
strangers to any suggestion of prudence
or dellcacy. All they care for is to keep
alive, by ever.changing, striking effects
In their personal appearance, the unhal.
lowed influence which is their life -
Hence come the lavishness, the eccen.
tricity, the daring of our monthly modes
Hence, fair reader, that newest fashion
which so delights you, which you have
been at SO much pains to procure. Do
you blush to learn its parentage or do
you rather reason with yourself that it
matters less who makes the fashions than
who follows them because any mode
whatsoever, when adopted by women Of
the superior class, becomes both respect.
able and charming9 You probably take
the latter view, for just such is the bland>
ishment which fashion throws over our
social faults. Every one does so,' is an
insidious foe, but to conscience and CONS
mon sense, hoodwinking the one and
beguiling the other into compliances
which, looked at apart from this traitor,
custom, would gil us with shame.
1t is painful to reflect that in moral
England all this is perfectly understood,
and that fast young ladies of good tam-
lily think it dashing thing to initiate
this or tha, celebrated courtesan. These
lost women are followed aud marked in
their drives by vi,Gous mRtgons and
lnaidens, deslrous OF looking as much
like them as possible. No wonder that
q celebrated writer thinks We are on the.
verge Of an entirely new era. The har>
lot Is now only half condemned, for she
is initiated and admired.