The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-02

but in the light of the revelation, which social
interchange Of thought and community OF feel
Jag has been to us of character and con 1uct.
This better estimate, this higher standard, we
must extend beyond the club. We must carry
it into the world. We must learn to rejoice IL
the evidence of other peoples possession OF
good, whether wo have it or not. No woman
lives for herself alone. Her beauty, her grace,
her taste, her personal possessions become
common property; and shall not rejoice in
them because she has the care OF them end not
r? T don't want her to dress in gray or brown,
because graz and brown are the most useful
and serviceable to me. like her in white, and
scarlet, and gold. I like the simmer OF her ne
satins, the trapsparence OF ner lace, the gilt
ter of her Jewels. 10 deprive her OF them
would be to deprive me OF the pleasure of see
ing them, of knowing through her that beau
ty, and grace, and harmony, and perfection
exist. My vision would be bounded by my
own lead-colored horizon; my selHshness would
Or went me from lifting the veil and seeing the
glory behind.
The conclusion to which We arrive, then, in
regard to dress is this, that we need to culti-
vate freedom in dress for ourselves, tolerance
in respect to others, and cease to estimate per-
sons by the mere fashion or cost Of their
clothing.
But what is freedom2 rather, what do we
understand by it? Is it freedom for me or
love scarlet and gold, as we'll as those who be-
lieve in gray and brown? Is it freedom 10
wear auy dress, or only short dress Is il
freedom to wear dress as long as Is useful
and becoming, without reference to change
in the cut of the sleeves or the length of the
skirt, or freedom to criticise with severity all
yho do not como up or down to our standard
of fitness and harmony
have heard structures and even wallings
fa1 nf
stSorosis" at their social gatherings. To mo
tho contrast is one OF the pleasantest and most
sensible features Of these gatherings. like
the state elegance OF some, the gaiety and bril-
liant cooring OF others. am proud of lit
shows the growing completeness OF orr aggre-
CATION, anG the varied scenes from which it is
drawn; but there are some faces and forms
framed with monastic plainness that are al-
ways sweet to look upon, and rejoice that no
rule of ''strict evanins dress required excludes
them from the enjoyment OF social and SEN
tient pleasures. -,
eral and advanced position upon this subject.
Already warning notes have been struck that
show how little reality there is lett OF the old
arbitrary systems. But whll' there Is great
er freedom there is also greater uniformity.
The steam spirit of the age, the ocean telc-
graph and other agencies. have brought us
next door to the centres of alt and civilization.
Paris and New York arc not twenty-five hours
apart. In less time than it takes to mako even
the minutost bonuet OF to-day, that same bonnet
is introduced, adopted into every city in Europe,
as we'll as in the great capital OF tho western
world, from Paris, the mistress and dictator OF
the modes TO the feminine half OF creation.
Do we desire to mortgage ourselves pcr-
in this wayp Would it not be more
worthy of American women 10 throw OH the
shacbles ct forcordainod dress and assert
their individuality, their power and their right
to do as they please III Z matter which so ex-
clusively concerns their own interests, health,
comfort and convenience
Let us, then, feel froe-.free to wear whatever
is best suited to our taste, position, means aud
habit. without ignoring fashion, without feel
,ne obliged strictly to follow its dictates. Let
us accord 10 others the samo liberty that we
desire for ourselves, whether it exhibits itself
in porecousuoss of elaborate display, or the
possible carelessness OF minds absorbed IN
other things. Let us lnscrlbe freedom upon
our banner, freedom 10 be to others the best
that We are capable of doing without demand
jug of them in return mora than they arc
capable Of giving. We cannot, any one of ms,
10 evclythin. to each other, bat we can bo
something to others, and let US be our best II
". can-our best in tho exhibition OF our judS-
mcnt and taste, our best in our federation OF
those who disregard or Gail to appreciate our
idea Of it.
Women arc beginning to demand emancIpa-
ton; but the strongest chains they have yet
worn are those which they have forged TOR
themselves.
We close with the following resolutions,
which We propose for your adoptlon:
Rcsolccd, 1hat the time IS past for setting
ND arbitrary standards OF fashion or roform IN
woman's dress.
Rcsoloed, That in the rapid interchanges of
thought and ideas from different parts OF tho
world, no rules or regulations could have the
effect of preventing The adoption OF really
tasteful and mcritorious fashion, and that
therefore u system of exclusion is as useless as
it is antioaated aud llibcr4l.
Resolued That individuality in dress shou ID
not only be tolerated put encouraged, in order
to promote the Independence which would de-
yelope original ideas, anl sustain women IN
adapting their dress to their own views and
coucoptions of taste and fitness.
ReSolucd That while We condemn fashiens
that expose tho person more than good sense
or good taste would warrant, so uphold the
right to every woman to please herself IN the
matter of dress. and mako it US far IS possible
tho exponent Of her own sentiment and lndi-
viduality.
Resolred That ta1rs. Grundy" is . nuisance,
that shall neither b9 tolerated or quoted ~
mnmbnr of Sorosis. JENNIE JUNE.