Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-12-17

goat-skin mantles when the weather wa
nne; but took them of when it was wet
and shivered In the rain and cold. AS IN
elligence increases, the idea Of show De-
comes gradually subservient TO that o.
use, and men lesrn to make comfort and
protection the first object In the ordering
and arrangement of their dress. Even now
we are Only emerging from barbarism
In this particular. But a few years since,
thin slippers were running tender consti-
tutiOns, end children gorgeously arrsyed
we're suffered to shiver with bare legs,
arms and Decks. Hsppily, shese abus es
are now corrected, and exposure TO cold
is no longer fashionable; yet still the
/ lungs are compressed, the hands and feet
crowded into coverings too tight for com.
fort, and many iDconVeniencss both pain
| ful and annoying are suffered for the sake
of display. No one can be well dressed,
| in the true meaning OF the word, who does
not regard comfort, health and protection
as the first principles to which all others
must be msde subservient.
After these have been secured the next
/ desidsratum in dress is beauty. The pro-
tests that have been justly brought against
pr0fusFon of ornament and excessive dis
play, have, at times, aBsailed the very ell
eInent OF beauty in raimsnt, aud permit
ted only sombre hues and awkward
shspss. Like sll extremes, they have
done their own cause infinite harm. None
can successfully war against nsJure, and
there is nothing more natural and uni
verssl tssn the love OF beauty, and the
desire TO produce it. The world is foil OF
graceful forms aud brilliant hues, and the
same sense that rejoices in the rich tints of
the setting sun, or OF sutumn's
foliage, is also glsddened by taste
ful and becoming attire. II this prin-
ciple were always recognized and culti-
vsted in young people, II, instead Of be-
ing called frivolous for wishing to drest
stTractively, they were instructed In the
true elements OF beauty and taught how
to srrsDgs their apparel, so as TO refine
their own taste and give pleasure to
others, il would be a oettsr safeguard
against the tyranny of fashion thsn any
vain attempt TO crush 8 natural and iusti-
fable desire. Beauty and fashion by no
means 90 hand in hand. Whoever would
secure the one must often sacrifice the
other. There is an Independence of char
scter that few of us possess, but which
cannot be too highly commended, which re-
fuses TO submit to the dictates Of custom,
however impsrious, when, by 30 doing,
health, comfort or besuty will be- sscri-
feed. It is true that ideas of beauty
change; what is admired in one age Is
ridiculed in another, yet there grs certain
elements which ere permanent, and when
these are ignored by the prevailing mode,
we do well to resist it. A uniform style
cannot be alike becoming to sll. Whist is
b5auttfUl on one person is deformitY to
another; the figure, the features, the COM
plexion must ali be considered, II real
beauty in dress Is to be produced
1t may he said that all this would in
volve an expenditure of time and money
quite disproportionste to the Importance
OF the subjecg itself We think not. III
calculation could bs made Of the proper
tion Of time and money now spsnt on COS
tune that is devoted to its comfort and
besuty, and compare it with the amount
lavishec on the extra demEnds Of fashion
for what Is needless and oftsn Untssteful,
We should be astOnishsd at the small pro-
portion which the former would bear to
the latter. It is indeed of the first impor-
tsnce to decide deliberately how much
of our incomes, how much Of our
time, how much of our minds and
hesrts shall be given to this infect
ThGt it has g right to certain portion |
is clear, bat how much is q question |
that should be decided by each one for him |
or herself. Brummel avOwedly gave his /
whole mind, his whole life to il, and many |
who despiEe him for the svOwal, would |
be astOnished did they reslize how nearly |
they initiate him. When W. think Of the |
long hours spent in shopping, the energy |
given to the fsshiOning of the goods |
bought, and the time consumed in srraDg- |
ing the ATTIRE When mpieted, we lear /
that too often but a slender portion of |
life's energies is reserved for higher |
things. The mind, given up to such per- |
suits, necessarily grows shsllow, feeble, |
and unsble to grasp any serious questions |
of thought; the heart set upon such aims |
grows selfish, contracted and mean. Per- |
haps no one more completely wastes and |
fritteTS away the life given for high and /
noble purposes, dvayts the intsllect, and |
blunts the soul, THAI tho vOtsTy of FASH |
ion. Let as then put this whole subject |
of dress into its proper place, sub |
ordinate to the moral character, sub
ordinate to the intellect; let it by no |
Besns crowd out the generous emotions |
or the loving afisotions; let us resolve how /
much time and thought, energy and |
money We will give to it, snd lot rs then /
freely devote thst portion, not in follow |
ing at greater or less distance the Paris /
fashions, but in such arrangements "a |
shall promote the health and comfort of |
our physical nature, and create real |
beauty Of forIa, color and adsptedness, |
which shall gladden. the eyes Of all who |
behold US.