, 1869-02-02

tftafd h. dteaS !. thi@t khAs wc nra.1 10 et1.
u.htg 1funtiutt ln dssst toF 'unfsnlyea. !al4r'
enco tn rtsl~ettv oshata, khd cuaA" to hAse |
tstthlsts q teh4"..a nls,n tsd h'a'e f*H'i''h Vt
stia i's * ~, s.lt f,ois.8a y isss83o Rather what
Va Andtratand ~ III: T. !: ttestto4.. for ms;<l
,of fftsxi IN tuF ain ia It tseedom Tor t4aaa
who love sea ':et aud gold, a. we'll ~ tloaa
Who lel.ey6 IN gray aud Hawnf ~ y sFeo.
dom t. wsss .ny aso.': q Guy A1ors are ose'i,
useful aud becoming, wit bout Fefbrence to .
change In tho cut OF the sleeves, or l.ugth OF
tho sk1rt. or freedom to criticize with seYest-
ty all who do aot come up Or down to our
/ Ihdyo heard structures, and cven wal!mss,
lover the contrast exhibited BY members OF
''sorosls" q, thcir social gatherings. 10 me
the contrast Is one Of the pleasantest and
most. sensiblo features OF these gatherings.
like the stste elegance Of some, the gayety
Of II. 1t shows the growing completeness o,
our aggregation, and The varied sources from
which 1t Is drawn. But there are some faces
and fosms framed with monast1c, plainness..
that arc always sweet to look upon, and I
rejoice that no rule df strict esenhg. dress
|! b!e;sedn. 50 of that fpe1petual heaven OF truth
and love which summons than or excludes
them trc1n the enjoyment Of social and sen
| tient pleasures.
| We are Bot dag too soon in taking up
F! liberal and advanced position upon this sub
| struc / that show how little reality there is
left of the old arbitrary. systems that SUBJ
| iected every free spirit to the ordeal Of the
fire aod the cord, even those who only re-
| belled agniEst the edie*s Of Goddess Fashion.
DO We desire to o-m0rtgage- ourselves per
petually in this wayt Would 1t not be more
worthy of. american women 70 throw ou the
shackles OF 'fore-ozdained dress and assert
their individuality, their power aud their
right 10 do as they please tina matter which
80 exclusively concerns their own interests,
health, comfort aud convenience:
Moreover would they not in this way de-
re1op higher ideals than any which can be
expected to proceed from the merely me-
chanical genius oi French n1iulners aud mau'
lawmakers? At pr.sent there Is an utter
want Of originality IN any department O.
. dress and iashion. ALI the changes au
bounced as novelties aro rgvlrals Of ths past
and to dress correctly is absolutely necessa
| ry for lady to be mote conrersant with th1
styles Of a by gone age than With the modes
ni to- day. =,
. ever is best suited to our tastes, position
! and haiti, Without ignoring lasnion, wittou
feeling obliged strictly to follow Its dictacte:
Let IT'S accord to Others the same llbcrt
that nc desire for ourselves, whether 1t eS
I libits itself IN EorEeonsncss Of elaborate ii!
| play or the possible carelessness Of .lniuds at
r scrbtd III other things. Let us inscfibe fret
pom upoa our fanncr. ltee to be to othe,
r the best that VIC are capable Of doing Will
j. out demanding Of them in return more tha
b they arc capable Of rlving. We cannot. ar
J. onu Of us, Re everything to each other, but u
d uur best II We can; our bestin tue e1hlbitlc
K | Of our Judgment aud taste, our best Ia OF
liberation Di those who disregard or fall
, appreciate our idea Of It.