Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-06-28
Dress as a Fine Art.

for ages held unbounded sway as the
fine arts Surely, in this progressive
ago, another should bc added to their
number? Why not dress I
| "Music, the universal language OF
feeling" was FIRST heard in Egypt to
Italy we look for painting and sculp
tnrc, although we are indebted to
Greece, for our earliest specimens, and
to Paris we look for dress. There are
the originals TO be found. They are
studied and arranged with artists
hands, and never was Venus copied
With greater care than are these copied
BY the universal world "Thc long
aisles and echoing vaults of vast cathe,
drals' ring out with the notes of the
eep'toned organ; on the ceilings are
rolled out the paintings of great mas.
tors, and from inches in the walls look
down the scuiptured forms of gods
and saints-throc fine arts why not
add the pcws are crowded with speci
mems Of fourth
Woman has spent time, talents, and
money in copying and bcautifying this
art. She has yielded all other things,
home, husband, children, friends, and
given all to dress. 1t is the shrine at
which she worships, and nothing is
spared in rendering it perfect.
She stands before the mirror deck.
ing herself for the ball room, where
she will either please or offend the
fastidious taste of the other sex. Her
dress has cost its maker many weary
night, much anxious thought, and
upon it she has exhausted all her skill
Flounce, ruflle and ribbon have been
studied and tried in every conceivable
position, and now, that it is finished,
she contcmplatcs it triumphantly, and
exclaims, Beautiful! 1t is really a
piece of art The owner having
donned the "piece of art, rougcd and
powdered in the highest degree, feath.
cred, curled, crimpcd, and ruffled, en-.
terS the crowded ball, and we pro
nounce her really an art.
Little does she dream or care how
many tired hands have been employed,
in subterranean vaults, making the
delicate lace that covers her neck /;
how many heart hopes have been
woven into its mcshes how many
tears from sightless eyes have fallen
upon it, or of the sickly smile that lit
their faces when il was finished -
What triumph do they enjoy upon the
completion Of u piece of art She,
tho wearcr, alone feels and enjoys
that.
In the history of the world dress
has ever held II ruling position. AL.
though its claims TO DO ranked among
the fine arts have been unacknowl.
edged. yet its influence for good or
evil has been as great as the greatest.
Napoleon gained a throne by fHeSse,
Eugenie established him thereon by
her artistic drapery and her delicate
manipulation Of the popular tastes -
As n great artist, her name deserves
mention among those great, "immortal
names that were not born to die -
The beautiful in dress comprises all
things-shade, material, style, com.
pIexion, station, and many other par.
ticulars, all of which have to be taken
into account and weighed with artistic
carciulness to produce the master
piece. 1t is the duty of every one to
make use of all the advantages thrown
into their pathway aud no outcry
can justify us in disregarding the
drapery (which shadows for the soul. )"
1t is only when fashion becomes a
blind leader, governing us by an iron
law, that We recognize the distinction
between tho true divinity and the
tyrant. Fashion is not "A fine art, but
rather an intruder within tho sacred
precincts, which has degraded dress
from the high station OF use and
beauty into glittcring show and idle
vanity.
Woman has been accused of max.
ing herself slave to her beautiful art,
but the accusation is false. BY natural
right she mingles with the Graces,
and appropriatcs to her adornment
all that can enhance her beauty or
add to her charms. 1t is only
when sho bows before the false deity,
Fashion, that she becomes the slave
1t is then that her soul dwarfed, and
her body becomes the more frame upon
which TO display all the "ill digestcd
mass OF things, not well joined togeth.
err, which we call chaos" In this
mad worship she and the brainless
fop meet upon common level
Neither is worthy of notice.
But, is the world benefited by at.
tention to dress2 Has not woman
wasted many golden hours and slight
ed many favorable opportunities in n
vain pursuit Would it not be better
to devote more time to home, where
she can rule the heart, which ought
to be considered vastly superior to
ruling fashion The Covenant.