The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1870-07-14
OUR DAUGHTERS.

Unoer this head the London Graph
&c prints sensible article, which in
so many points is quite applicable to
similar phases Of society in this coun-
try that we commend the following
paragraphs to the attention of our
readers
1t seems to us that nothing could
be better calculated to hinder mar
riage than the present system of do
nestle economy, etiquette, and hos
FATALITIES. In the first place the ex-
cessive luxury and display in which
upper and middle rank indulge, tor
BIDS anything like easy intercourse
between young people. What with
the wanton costliness Of dress, en-
tertainments, and other family items,
very little remains to be spent upon
every day comforts and very.day
enjoyment. In large percentage
of cases there is no doubt that the
balance is on the wrong side, and
that the people not only live up to
the utmost they can afford but iaf-
ford themselves tritle more than
they can pay for. Consequently, a
certain stereotyped scale OF living is
adhered to, at what cost the victims
Of conventionalism and the Worship
ers of fashion only know and much
more rational qualifications are sacri
feed.
The diversity of family interests,
moreover, is an offshoot of the self
same evil. While girls lives have
SO little in common with the lives of
their brothers and fathers, who can
wonder at the Objectionable way in
which some of them find amusement
Tor themselves. The Germans tx
press the diverse interests and un-
sympathetic existence of a family
circle in one word, 'Unzusammenge-
horigkeit, (which literally translated
is nmtogether belongingneSs, and it is
just this that we complain of in a
larger sense. Not only as members
of families, but of society, our unzu.
sammengehOrigkeit is a growing evil
against which every one ought to
struggle.
1t is impossible to enjoy the socie-
ty of a cultivated woman unless she
wears dress decollete exceedingly !?
And is a man not to be considered
clothed in his right mind who is hab-
lied IN black trousers and swallow
tail coat All this is absurd enough
and generates serious inconvenience
and extravaganza. And would it
not be wise to adopt a more sensible
style of evening dress, which would
enable people to walk to each others
houses ? There can be no doubt that
the low gowns and cumbrous head
dresses OF ladies of the present day,
or rather night, are re les of bar
barouS age, and must some time or
other give way to a more sensible
costume.
There is yet another point to con.
slider \ man often remains unmar-
RED, not because he prefers single
life, but because he is too conscien-
tious, and too unseltiSh to condemn
JOunS NOutdIi, uUIsSu III luAuTy, 10
poverty and the anxieties of an I'M
certain livelihood. 1t seems to us
that a grieyious responsibility rests
upon parents. In this matter at least,
they should take little heed for the
morrow, and consider their daughters
not as mere pretty playthings In the
house, but as rational beings who |
will, sooner or later, share the hard |
realities of life, and it may be, unaid-
I'd and alone. 1t is nonsense to af-
irm that the extravaganza of the age |
$ obligatory. We could do our duty
IS citizens, parents and Christians
lutte as well, and perhaps better, if
ge resolutely adhered to the prlnci-
lie OF living within our incomes, no
natter how small. We could meet
Id age twice as cheeriully, and what
0 parents is harder still-the middle
lge of our unmarried daughters, if
We had placed them beyond the
each of the penury that depresses,
ne disappointment that sours, and
ne dependence that demoralizes.