Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-01-29

SoRosIs ON THE GRECIAN BEND AND
oANIERS. We behold with shame the gradual
zpproach and popularity OF the hideOus protu-
oarances and various ungraceful attachments
C vomen's garments. We had trusted to the
idea that, these things being absolute deforml,
les, they could not be adopted by women OF
,aste or common sense. But 1t is useless to
denv the fact that the hustle, which causes q
inge of shame to the cheek; the panier, which
SC sn added extravaganza; the idiotlc Greclan
,e,d and the horrible wfigging walk, are be-
coming so common that they will soon cease to
snoak our sensbilities aud become universal,
I we make no effort to stay their encroach-
.nents. These wretched monstroSitiesa are already
IN the streets Ia considerable numbers, and the
;act that they are first adopted by women OF
joubtiul reputation does not deter others from
2reedily adopting them.
No wonder that woman is standing object
.or ridicule, if she has no higher object 10 lite
han the questionable one OF making herself
conspicuous without regard to prOprlety or de-
cency. We may surely know without question,
hat If the first view OF new fashion IN dress
NJ manner shocks our tastes or senSItlveness,
hal it is wrong, that it is an outrage upon
delcacy, and should not be tolerated. We
nave never heard an Individual acknowledge
hat the first sight OF the hustle was not one Of
shame, that the first sight OF the new posturing
did not cause feeling of contempt, and the
vretched affected walk sense of utter disgust,
No wonder that woman holds an inferior posi-.
ion. She deserves to until she can show that
there is soul inside Of her decorated, becurled,
5efurbelowed body. Women are Judged by
their actions and appearance, aud the result is,
that there are scarcely enough with common
sense left to save SodOm, and destruction IS
certainly ours if we can make no change in this
bondage TO fashion.
We met an object on the street to day with
I skirt of various cOlors, an enormous hump
cushing out her velvet cloak. singular affair
o; white and red floating above hair enough
or q mattress. This thing was perched on
stills, and wriegled along like poor Chinese
nth deformed extremities. 1t was not wo-
man. We stoutly deny that such things can
belong to our sex. They are nOndescrlpts,a and
e they live will have new grammar to cor
rect gender. TO call them women Is llbellous.
Women are the centres OF home, and love,
end respect They are modest; they use little
ornament they have refinement that shrnks
rom publicity; they have the halo of mother
mood, the saintship OF iie's duties nObly TILED;
2ney have a deep religious faith that guides
mem they have an unselfiSh regard for the
;lgats OF others; they have a conscience that
ahrinka from the faintest breath that wou d
sally the true glory and power Of womanhOod.
{ is easy to assume the Garb of the sex, but
:. &c difficult to attain the spirit of it, it by
nature or education an individual belongs to a
acaTser mould, but it is worth the striving. Tor;
there can be no higher honor than is contained
in the words, "A noble woman" If women
YoGld only lay aside this anxiety about aVarle-
y :or their bodies, and study as earnestly to
3loiEe their minds with firm purposes, with
1Ohle aspirations, with culture, with unseifsh
thoughts or aspirations, they would find that
he true secret Of life was at last within their
grasp, and that all before had been but the
outer sanctuary of temple filled with beauty
sc holiness. = Chicago SOrOSiS.