The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-10-14
Growth Of Fashion.

Growth of Fashion.
The New York Commercial has the fol
lowing artistic and truthful article on the
tyranny and caprice Of fashion
We are happy to learn from the Times,
which has investigated the subject, that the
.sGrecian bend is a matter of dress, not OF
posture" It is, then, new ana-p' sture on
the part of fashion, which eternally builds
itself up on false basis, veneering base me-
tai with gold, constructing magnificent CHG
mons upon despicablc rats, and making syn
metrical, by padding, those forms to which
nature has given no comliness. The rule OF
fashion is imperious if not imperial. 1t has
a sovereign contempt for common sense, and
it scorns and defes r1dicule. The stage, the
pen, the speaker, the pulpit, the artist, the
photographer may cover fashion with derl-
sion and mockery, but it goes on its way
The most contumelious words and the most
sarcastic designs are disdainfully regarded
as if thew were but the idle wind. so 1t
happens now, as the Times observes, the
"Grecian bena,'' the latest device of fashion,
is steadily increasing, and its fair victims
actually purchase the engravlngs OF that at
titude from the street boys, as if they de-
sired model to work and walk after. The
bend has passed beyond the reach OF rldl-
Guile, and lifts itself up among the airy no.
things of fashion with as proud port as
as any of its predecessors. 1t scorns the
photograph and despises the comic singer
It will have its day, and be superseded by
something equally monstrous; tor fashion
makes mock of the laws of beauty and tit
ness, and recklessly breaks the rules OF har-
mony and symmetery Comfort, ease, health,
are nothing, so that the gay goddess has her
| followers, and her heaviest yoke is deemed
easy .by those who bow their willing necks to
it.
It's curious to watch the on coming ofsa
new fashion It is denounced at the start,
and has but here and there bold follower.
The mass of ssthe sex" denounce it, but with
apprehension, and vague thought OF ultl-
mate surrender. They first abhor, then pity,
then embrace. The dashing women come In
at the first call. The more timorous gradu-
ally weld their sense, and allow themselves
to be taken captives. On these the new pro-
crosses by slow degrees. They do not leap
at once to the extreme Ribbons, pads, folds
gradually increase in size and frequency.
By slow accretions the new form common
ded by fashion takes shape and size. One
victim follows another, and ''ere you arc
aware" there is a hostage Of fashion In every
house. By this time the men have grow
familiar with the spectacle. They cease tt
growl, and then laugh. They are overcome
and they content themselves with an occa
/. sional deprecating philosophical observation
and stupid wonder, if wonders will eve
cease. .
This sort of growth is not only noticcabl
: in womens' fashions. 1t has parallel in thos
of men, as one may see who watches the tur
that shoes are taking in these days. Their
is no escape from it, and it is only questlo
), of time how long before a fashion will bf
i come universal. It is an elemental law thu
: new fashion will fellow DR.. Diapers rul
of national life, and have its childhood, II
Il youth. its manhood, and its decrepltude.
is never nipped in the bud. It is like a
epidemic it begins, runs its course, an
ends. 1t seorns preyentives. There is L
safety in flight Take the wings of the morl
ing, and the Barcan desert pierce-the CIR
clan bend will avail itself Of the same wing
!, Lose myself in the continuous woods-tl
# G. B. is also, on the lose" Go to the pc
,e or the equator, it goes there also. Like tt
sun in the heavens and the drum beat Of Fin
land, the one follows the other around Il
world and keeps pace with the morning.
Expostulation, entreaty, philosophy, m
rails, ridicule, ralilery, sarcasm, all are
vain. The only way is to accept the stu
NJ ton and make the most of it. The fast
k fashion runs its race, the sooner it reach
decrepitude To oppose obstacles is to de
OF the law of its being, and 10 impart steae
> CT and longer life to it, 1t is the one gre
and triumphant explainer Of Darwin's pr
ciple Of selection, It offers type to whi
all approach.