The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-05-05

In giving place to the following article
We may soy that, 80 far as We are con-
cerned, we never criticise the ladies'
dresses-not we-and 80 we never get into
any difficulties with the ladies themselves,
as more than one of our neighbors do. We
not only hold that every lady should dress
as handsomely as she can, but we honestly
teach that whatever is fashionable is
pretty:
Dear Mr.. Editor,-In the State Journal
Of Saturday appears an article touching the
opera in which the writer takes occasion to
comment upon the extravaganza in dress
of sour ladies'" and grayely reads us o
homily on the improperly Of our conduct
in running "papss and husbands " into
debt. Now, if by sour ladies =" he means
the wives and daughters of officials, they
do not need his censures, inssmuch as they
are perfectly justifable in dressing hand
somely, for they have the means, and most
probably never run their husbands in debt;
but I am constrained to believe that it is
oar well-doing, and the interest of our
husbands, that he 80 benevolently cares
for, and l am afraid that l, for one, cannot
feel properly grateful for his efforts. l
have been puzzled and surprised at
the GOODNESS with which that journal
speaks of "our State" sour interests"
Jus, we, and company as if he had been
born and reared one of Us, but to speak of
us as "our ladies" was the drop too much,
and I am fain to declare we neither desire
nor need his kindly intended structures.
We have the audscity to believe that we,
can avoid running our husbands, and do our
duty under the circumstances in which it
has pleased God to place us, without the
surveillance Of the State Journal. But for
the benefit Of others who may fall into the
same error, let me say word in behalf Of
my young townswomen. I can speak ad-
visedly, for / have seen them all grow up
around me, and have known most Of them
since they were born, and confidently
affirm that they are not extravagant in dress.
What do men know about such things
How can they tell whether the dress which
hts so neatly, and falls SO gracefully around
the pretty form, cost large sum, or was
turned, renovated, and renewed, from one
her mother bought before the war, and all
by her own handy fngers-that the little
bonnet owed nothing to fashionable MILL
ner, but was created out of almost nothing
by those same deft fingers, in her chamber
looked out upon Franklin street a few
days ago, and was surprised at the beauty
Of the attire Of the young pedestrians,
many, very many, Of whom looked lovely
In walking suits which kne,o cost twenty
FIVE cents yard, and were made by them
selves. But cannot do better than to give
an extract from New England writer, in
chapter headed "Men and Women"
which is mine of good sense. She quotes
from one Of their papers thus: sit costs
so much to support q wife that that is the
reason the young men don't marry. They
feel they must wait to acquire an income
sufficient to support them in the style to
which they have been accustomed" &c.,
SC. This from the paper. She says
1.-THE mothers, too, receive their share
Of the blame, and generally the lions
share, for it somehow happens that in all
these jeremisds the husband goes scot free.
There are very few men who are capable
Of telling whether woman is extrayagsnt
or not. 1t is very dangerous to Judge Of
the cost Of her dress from its appearance.
1t Is not the most SNOWY things that cost
the most, nor the most simple that cost the
least. II your lady-love's dress does not
offend your taste, my fine fellow, never
trouble yourself about its price, for the
founces which make you so uneasy are
seven years old, and redeemed from dress
Of her mothers. The velvet basque, which
you must allow to be very becoming, is the
Joint product Of two old cloaks Of her sis
ter's; the bonnet, made by herself from g
lace veil which has been in the family for
years; and all the time she pricksd her
fingers over it she smiled unconsciously at
the thought Of pleasing your eyes, and
this is the thanks she gets for it,
This, though written for another stmos-,
phere, is essentially true Of US at the South.
could point now to silk dress, which
may be seen at st. James's any SUNDAY.
which has been washed, ironed, made nm
again, and trimmed, without costing
dime, and ! defy masculine eyes TO read It's
history. also saw two Of my young friends
arrayed for tho opera the night nreced;ns
tbs paragraph" and admired the indnsss.
Try and Ingenuity which made them Iook
80 pretty and attractive without anv az.
penditare. 'NNe' "uy "a"
fear am exceeding the limits o. cow Z
patience, but ] felt impellsd to raise nv nv
voice to refuts charge 80 proundlsss
eQaingt MIR vn,n, anS SnsS G>~~'SttAeso