Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-01-21
IEFASHlON AND OUT OF FASHION.
BY ELZEY HAY.


There are some people who make .
practice Of railing against every new
fashion that comes in vogue, for nc
other reason, apparently, than because
it is the fashion. "What is the sense
Of it!-what is the use OF ity-where
is the reason Of il Z" they sneeringly
ask of every mode that makes its an.
pearaDee-as if the same queries might
not suggest themselves, with equal
propriety. concerning the antiquated
styles which they make such merit
of keeping up. To people who are
always asking, What is the use of be-
ing in the fashion, we may very prop
erly retort, What is the use of being
out of iti The truth is, it is both
unreasonable and impertinent to look
for either use, sense, or reason in fash
ion-a thing whose glory is eccentrici.
ty, whose wisdom is folly, whose rea-
son is caprice Fashion is no more 10
he regulated by reason than the strains
Of a musical fantasy, or the vagaries
Of a midsummer nights dream. Its
chief aim is at novelty and variety I;
its acknowledged object in society is
TO startle and amuse by endless chan
ges. The soul of its existence is that
very fckleness which is 80 much cen.
sured by prudes whose narrow purses
allow them TO rail against fashion
more freely than TO follow its endless
eapriees. Very often, l fear, there
are a few sour grapes mixed up with
the philosophy OF people who so osten-
tatiously parade their contempt for
the folies Of fashion. A lady who can
afford a new bonnst every few weeks,
and whose mantuamaker spares her
the trouble Of directing how each new
gown shall be trimmed, will generally
keep on much better terms with the
6okle goddess than one who has to
get an old bonnet done over every
season, or who can only sport a fash
ionable covering by cutting down last
winters cloak into a poplin Jacket.
The folly, if there be any, in such
cases, is not in fashion, but in those
who attempt, without sufficient means,
TO initiate its extravagance. Fashion
was never intended tor poor people
it ignores poverty, and boots at econ
omy; il takes no account of small
incomes and large families Of girls
Unfortunately Tor the purses Of poor
women, the caprices Of fashion are
controlled by those who never have to
consider the cost Of them, and TO whom
the most sudden and decided changes
cause not n moment of anxious reheo-
ton. They can jump from short skirts
TO sweeping trains, from Spanish Jack
cts TO Arab mantles, from "catalans7
TO "sky-scrapers," without a thought,
while their more humble imitators are
at their wits ends 10 keep up in the
race after this feeting will-o-the-wisp, |
If the Empress Of France had TO rip
and alter old clothes-if she had 70
turn last winters silk before appear
ing at the first foie Of the present sea
son-if she knew what it was TO let a
breadth into last summers muslin be- |
fore il would set well over the new
style of hoops--if she had 70 cut up
and gore that green poplin skirt before /
il could be made TO hang properly, I
the changes Of fashion might, perhaps, |
be less rapid and caprioious, aud if She I
could once feel the despair that strikes I
some breasts, when the style changes
and decidedly, so that a short .
sacque can, by no stretch Of ingenuity, |
be converted into long talma, nor a
tight coat sleeve expanded into a flow
ing mdnchc Ia jHire. the five Miss
Jenkinses would never be so sadly put
to il in trying to follow her arbitrary 1
DEGREES.
And yet, after all, Iquestion whether
the Empress Of France, who sets fash
ions for all the world, thinks half so
much about them as many poor lit
tie country belle, who spends all the
week in planning and working TO
make a fine appearance on Sunday.
The ladies who dress most arc not
always the ones that think most about
what they wear. They have milliners
and dress makers TO think for them,
while they have only to enjoy the
results of such deliboration. Long
with well filed wardrobes
prevents them from forming that ex.
lggerated estimate of the importance
lf dress which is natural 10 one who
works hard for every bit Of finery she
as a man who enjoys
health does not appre.
iiate his immunity from sickness 80
highly as one whose sense Of the bles-
ling is quickoned by an occasional
.winge Of the gout, or a passing ft Of
Indigestion. The grandest duchess in L
feels not half SO fine in her
point lace and diamonds as the Devon.
ihiro farmers daughter in her new
muslin dress and PINK ribbons. Wei
generally value thing 10 proportion
b The labor and trouble it costs rs 70
,biain il hence, the poorer members !
If fashionable circles are apt 10 rate
he importance Of dress much more
highly than their Weather and more
iashing associates, and women in lit
lie country towns talk more highly
han would a convention Of m0dlSfcs.
The bellies Of Madison Square and
Pennsylvanis avenue would be start