The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-08-18
MopERN ExrRAyAaANcK.

The tendency of the times is TO-
ward extr ayagance in everything
The simplicity of even twenty years
ago, both in dress and manner OF iiv-
ing, is being superseded almost en-
tirely by great display, accompanied
by an imitation of what is supposed
to be the aristocratic style of living.
The practice of judging people, ,bY,the
clothes they wearis generals and tbs
old adage that" God made tue man,
and the tailor makes. the tgentlemAn,
is nowaconstrued to imply that the
tailor creates the superior work: The
tendency to display in dress has ali
ready been carried to an extent beyond
which it did not seem possible to go;
but the summer fashions are,lieyen
more extrayagant and absurd than the
winter. Happily for the men, The
tailors are held back by the refusal OF
the more staid of their customers, who.
are largely in the'majoritysste yee
dressed like fops. But what shall We
say Of the fashionables Of the other
sex r Has any absnrdity : ever yet
been developed from the fertile braif
Of the man miiliners Of Paris that the
women have not been prompt 70
adopt? Was not the rage for the
Grecian bend the most extraofd dinar
Of fashions fo1lies and yet the paniers
reduced in size, still maintains s posi-
ton in fashionable society The mar!
velous proportions Of the sugar-loaf
hat, crowned with a whole garden or
artificial nosegays, are a wonder to
behold,i and although the belles aof
| modern society, VINO daily premsnsdS
Fifth avenue and other fashionable
thoroughfares, are a work of art pes6
description and beyond eomprehena
sion all at roncc.r The dress pattern IA
the least expensive of her outside
equipment. The, trimmings psueiiy
cost more than the pattern, and the
making. than either. Q FlouneeI efter
fiounce, ruffie after lrufie, skirt over
skirt, fringes, furbelows, festoonery
and frivolity cover every dayallRble
space of the substructure, The panlef
throws the body slightly forward and
a massive sash, brilliant with all thu
colors of the rainbow, faunts lfrom
this artificial elevation-=a1 fitting, tail
to this peacock of fashion InH sD5ij
We disclaim the intention Of draw
ing picture unusual or distorted IL
, NAV be seen at all times both on: ,tnei
street and in the drawing-room. Men
turn aside to smile,. and not Wltnest
a pang of sincere regret that 1t isise'i
! Husbands, and fathers abondon their
! efforts to stay the tide of extravaganza
: pay the bills as long as there is ISshos
: in the locker" and then fail. Embez-
; elements and defalcations are the Or
!, der of the. day, and how much OF this
: is due to the wasteful, extrayagans
habits of living we need net enaInef.
ate. Al distinguished foreign Hlinistef
being notified, short time since, 0i
: the defalcation and disappearance Of
! an nattache of one of his consular
!; Offices telegraphed in reply, is VINO
:. is the woman 2" an epigramich com
: mentary on the times. b'.s .iioilh. os''
= Where these thingswia end no one
!, can tell. The extravagant habits oi
! the French nobility led on to- corrup.
= ton, first in social circles, and then II
!, high placee. The love Of display and
!. the passionfo for mere selfish enjoy yyrnsfii
! reigned supreme Pleasure was the
! universal god, and virtue, honesty and
every virtue were sacrificed 'upon tn,
% altar. Then came the French revoiu
/ ton, and the follies of thecourt were
]. drowned in bloVd.q We, need Noml
+ calamity, such as general bznEruptcg
4 to bring the people ckhto habitaito
!, economy and right living.' ,Hsm lie I
-. stA ia