The New York herald., 1870-08-28
Fashion and Art.

again to the American public in our columns
to-day. The oracle is OF rather melancholy
import. The utteranccs reveal feeling OF sor-
row at the sad evidences which have just been
given of mans inhumanity to man on the bat
tie field the attestations which were being
had OF the humiliating mundane reality that
individual ambition, pride, the lust Of terrific
rial conquest and the greed Of power still
prevail almost to mastery in the heart of man,
that ''feebie tenant of an hour" Kings and
emperors, as of old, sweep their subjects aud
fellow men from the earth by thousands, with
the view or in the hope that the members OF
their family, or the dynasty as it is termed
may enjoy some petty little triding advantage
in the future, or that after they themselves
have been called from earth to eternity
storied urn may proclaim who rests below"
by an inscription which, as has been re-
marked with truth by very great writer,
will really say, ''Not what he was, but what
he should have BEEN" War is, after all, how
ever, only temporary scourge The Ao,7'jaG
bella exhausts its fury soon; strangles to
death in the commissions of the violence and rage
which produced it. War contests may endure
for year Or two in this age of scientific
refinement in the production of Implements of
slaughter, but what are couple of such years
in tho history OF timer Merely dark blot on
its fair page-just dark enough to arrest the
temporary attention Of civilized future and
to cause posterity to inquire what manner of
men could have endured on the fair fields of
France or dwelt by the beautiful rivers and in
the glens and on the mountains of Germany at
the moments of its provocation and inhiction.
The grand essential of art will have then
had its triumph. Fashion will attend in its
train. Their refining influe noes will unite the
populations in peace. Crowned disturbers
will be untnowa--the royal belligerents of
to-day almost forgotten. The statues and
monuments of the Bonapartes, the Fredercks
and the yelling gtons-the memorials which
represent them merely as swordsmen or gun
ners-will be either broken or preserved for
the purpose of warning youth against the in
duIgence of human passion-against the decep-
tive influences OF glory. Art will point its
finger to the statue Of Hercules strangling The
hydra, revelation of tae ultimate dethrcne-
ment of Mars, first metaphor of st. Helena.
In those days will come religon-faith, hope
and charity-tle realization Of the healing of
the sword wound Of the servant by the simple
touch OF the finger Of the High Priest in his
humanity.
In the meantime our special writer's on
fashion and art speak Of the realities of the
day Ia Paris che queen of the toilet remained
in distress. She was grieved at tie violent
innovations of the camp. The Saarbruck hat
will be difficult Of accommodation to her brow
''Wissembourg dagger" ornaments looked
nice, but the idea Of horror was too pointed in
its application for enjoyment. Gold could not
cover defeat, nor even the blaze Of diamonds
and gilded ornamentation enighten the gloom
which was produced by the reverses which
had bcfallen the French lances-spears
such az those which in former ages flashed
forth" to conquest from even the vineyards Of
Normandy. Paris was in a state OF repent
ance. Toilets were made solely with the view
Of being convenient in the wards of the hos
pitals. They had battle pieces in the theatres.
The churches spoke of relief Of the wounded.
la the streets were army relief fund contribu-
ton boxes and by the home hearths fearful
eyes, Grape, mourning and prayer. Such is
Paris, once 80 gaudy and gistering, in time of
war The demora!izations Of the great struggle
were apparent TO some extent even in the halls
of art. In the studios and al the opera there
was excitement, confusion. The Chassepot
and sabre were substituted in many instances
for the chisel and the palette France was
alarmed, but hopeful Artists could not how
ever, settle their minds TO work Inspiration
was neglected; the war bulletins of the news
papers were invoked and codrted. Under such
circumstances have our special writers on art
and fashion made their present effort in
Europe, and thus do we present the result to
the American people.