The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1871-09-15
Do They 2

IL Is the opinion of Elizabeth Stuart
Phelps, "that women dress to please the
men,
Does she know women? They dress
for each others eyes. They fear each
others criticisms and ridicule more than
anything living. To have Mrs. Lofty
say our velvet is cOtton-back-Our laces
imitatiOn-Our dress an old one turned
wrong side out, and bottom side up, and
retrimmed TO hide old seams, is all but
death itself To have Mrs. Pompous
survey us from head to foot, and com
pute the probable cost of our outfit, and
she can do it to a dollar, is wretchedness
of the deepest dye. The veriest butterfly
fitting can disturb the serenity of the
busiest bee by saying, "What under the
canopy possesses you TO think square
neck becoming, when your neck is so
scrawny and sallow?r Little honey
will be made that day-it will take all
the strength of that most industrious
insect to keep from initiating the turtle
Put bit of fringe where last wear
your dress was stylish in ruffies, and
Beau Brummel, even, will not recognize
the ancient garment. Half cover il with
fringe, and Beau's lady love will detect
the subterfuge and strait, and o the pity
that will shine through her sidelong
glance at it,
"Only fifty cents "a yard, and such a
lovely pattern, Why, madam, Mrs.
Parvenu herself can never tell the diff
ference between it and the real valen-
ciennes."
She buys, and is happy at the ball,
until a pair of lynx eyes pierce the
make-believe, and partner, and music,
and bouquets, and ices, cease TO interest,
NJ laaa
imitation, in whose meshes she is
caught.
"sHallo, Dick, little seedy this spring?
Marriage swallowing your funds ?''
Dick makes significant signs, and his
old comrades nudge each other, and
prOphesy, "He'll be a-rich fellow"
And Dicks bride? Let her dare wear
a seedy shawl o; old-fashiOned bonnet,
and her dear five hundred friends whis-
per, "Her husband is an old curmudg-
eOn-she's OH paltry allowance
Well, why should she not indulge her
taste in dress, and appear in one "new
every morning, and fresh every even
ing" when dear, patient Dick earns il ?
If she is to be supported, why shouldn't
she be, and is il not an insult to Dick, Il
positive unkindness, TO bring feminine
odium upon him, by her willful neglect
of her wardrobe? After arraying her i'm
purple and fine linen, the envy of other
women, if Dick should still have little
to spare for the bank, so much the better
if not, he can have the satisfaction of
knowing that she is being impoverished
in a good cause, approved of an admiring
sisterhood.
When that good time comes in which
il will be no unusual thing to read +. q.
Stevens & Daughter, COnveyancers, and
Dick & Wife, Dealers i'm Produce, frocks
and furbelOws will be subordinated to
deeds and dried apples, and if it be
necessary for the men-partners to wear
napless hats, and threadbare coats, for
the thrift of the business, ii Will be
equally necessary for the woman-partneT
to wear out-of-date garments, and she
too will hear the prediction from temi-
nine lips, "She'll be rich woman"
A successful woman of business Is
spared the criticisms which sting the
idle. aimless one. Society recognizes
something in her beyond the reach of its
ewes and tongue-it sees that purpose
i'm life guides and guards her-it feels
that ceaseless waves of fashion sweep
over her, nor leave trace behind. There
is no earthly reason why a woman
should be tricked out like doll, and 1
man be clothed decently and comfort
ably, but the one furnished by public
sentiment, which makes woman
heather idol, and man her worshIper
/ He hangs trinkets in her ears and ON hel
arms, and blind faith says she blesse'
l him i'm return.
Does not Juggernaut sometimes crusl
/ its followers?
There is but one influence which cal
cOunteract that of dress. Make woman
the equal partner of man, a "Silen
Partner' if you please, and she will los
interest in milliners and dressmakers
and, taking up the work of life, be at las
what she was at first, helpmeet 70
man.-Miridnl " Cote.