The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-17

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tion. No one adopts costume because it is
ugly and may take away from her charms.
| However unbecOming fashion may be- it is
adopted not with any idea that it Is SO, but
under the impression that IL is quite the re-
verse. Dyes and cosmetics are used to
heghten beauty or to conceal defects and for
the same purpose these novel contrivances
have been brought into fashion. 1t is remark
able that while the orinoline was introduced
to conceal fact, so these more recent novel
ties make all who adopt them appear to be in
the very condition which the crinoline was in
tended to conceal.
I II is ineligible that elderly women. who
are concious of the ravages of time, who know
that they are no longer young, and that the
bloom of youth has left their cheeks, upon
which the lapse of years have stamped its
lndelible traces, should do all in their power
to simulate that which they have outlived.
especially when they consider what are called
''the claims of society" to be of paramount
Importance, and care only for the world
and It's charms, and live only for society
But it is Incredible that the Young
who have sustained no loss, who have no
ground of complaint against the cruel, iron
grasp OF time, should have recourse to expe-
dients which are utterly inconsistent with
their early years. The roundness of form, the
graceful curves, the soft tints, which belong to
youth are theirs in all their fulness They
nave no defects to conceal. Why, then, should
they adopt fashion which, however much it
may assist their elders, cannot be of apy SER
vice to them What man in his senses would
suffer himself to be attracted by painted
doll If the object of dress is to clOthe with.
out disiguring the form, and if marriage is
the desideratum of all young ladies, it is. to
say the least, unwise in them to mar their
prospects by the adoption of fashion which,
however prevalent it may be, is not only un-
suited to youth, but is suggestive of the
tricks of the demi-monde, who have no
scruple about hanging out false lights to en-
trap the unwary. We remember an instance
OF young lady of considerable per-
sonal attractions, whose only fault had been
certain pallor, which, after all, though pecu
liar, was not actually unbecoming, but which
had recently disappeared. She asked friend
upon whom she was calling to lend her a veil,
which, when she returned it, was all covered
with rouge and paint. 1t had been noticed
that she had beautiful bloom upon her
cheeks, which had taken the place of her
former pallor, and it was hoped by those who
were kindly disposed towards her that the
change was owing to renovated health rather
than to art; but it turned out she was mass
OF paint and rouge. Eyebrows and eyelids
were darkened; paint and rouge were literally
used; and she had become nothing better than
painted doll. Her skin and complexion
injured by the constant use of cosmetics, that
it was no longer a matter of option,
but became necessity to her
to use fictitious and meretricious
arts. Her fixed brilliant coloring, dark eye
brows,. and glittering eyes, became actually
repulsive.
Some persons, who carefully watch over the
education of young girls, resolutely set their
faces against the wide field of literature which
comes under the designation of novels. We |
have no intention of discussing the wisdom of
a wholesale objection to a kind of reading
which undoubtedly had its advantages, be- |
cause 1t is large question, and there are cer-
tainly many books which come under this
class which are decidedly Objectionable, and
which would lay open to the youthful mind a
state of things Of which the less they know
the better. But it is a remarkable fact that |
they who are so watohful and tenacious upon |
this point are quite Indifferent upon matter
which is at least equally injurious. When a
young girl "comes out' into society, the
utmost care and consideration are paid to her
appearance, avowedly for particular object |
that she may attract young men.
In order to accomplish this-to insure ad- !
miration, which the chaperons designate cher
success''-no tricks are considered to be out |
of place. If she is pale, and it is unbecoming,
recourse is had to the rouge-pot, which is
judiciously used by the experienced hand of |
an anxious chaperon. II she is thin and
spare, and her figure is not fully developed, |
the dressmaker is instructed to supply what |
nature has omitted, and by dint of pads to
impart roundness which does not exist. If |
she is the reverse, then the budding charms |
are to be exhibited, and low dressing is |
adopted. In short, the one idea is to make |
the most of a young girls ''points' and to |
hide her defects. She is introduced into |
society very much as horses are taken to fairs |
for sale. Her "points," +" her "paces," are care
fully studied beforehand, and the chaperon |
takes the place and performs the part of the |
salesman. Her daughters establishment in |
the world is the one all-absorbing idea. and men |
are valued according to their rent-rou. AS |
dress is the means by which favorable impress |
sions are first made, it plays very prominent |
part in the game, and all the tricks and entice- |
ments of which dress is capable are adopted |
without any hesitation. We donot, of course |
refer to those perfectly innocent embellish- |
ments which relate to the preference of one
dress for another, or for one style for another |
These are most legitimate and innocent. We |
refer to those impostures in dress by which |
things seem to be which are not, and the |
adoption of which is in itself great indignity
to the whole race of womankind. No one is |
bound to dress herself unbecomingly; but,
ON the contrary, is more than justified in
making the best use of NATURES gifts. Oar
protest is against the introduction of novelties
by which women are taught to impose upon
the world, which cannot fail to have a demora-
hzing influence over them, and which desc
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