The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1871-09-27
One Cause Of Crime:

That crime is on the increase in
the world at large, and in the Uni
ted States in particular; is an alarm
ing fact. The indulgence Of
fashionable dress ou the part OF
women is one cause Of it. In the
Annual Report Of the New Eng
land Moral Reform Society, made
at the Park Street Church, Bos.
ton, Nay 81, 1871, we find the
fo!lowing:
ave grieve to be obliged to
record our deliberate conviction
Of the prom uinent causes that lead
to the violation Of the laws Of
purity among women. The con-
yiction is forced upon US every
day and everywhere. 1t is the
love of dress, or display among
women: The lovo is fostered in
IN the child by parents from it's
cradle. Consciously or uncon-
sciously, the education Of the
mother tends to this display. The
child comes to feel that dress in
cludes almost everything; that be
or she is nothing without it.
"Lcok at our Christian women.
protesting to have renounced the
world its pomns and vanitics.
Christian women, adorned with
aIi the pararhcrnalia of the bail.
room, walking the streets, enter
ing the house Of God, attracting
attention from all eyes by the fine
ness and quantity OF their laces,
the rarity Of their iewelry, the
coatIiness cf their silks. These
are the sermons that are heard,
these the epistles that are read
each Sabbath day read and pom
dered by the children, the poor
shop-girls and servants, while
each, as soon rs able, by fair or
other means; practice what they
have read. Is it strange that we
hear cf young and older women
advertising for Friends who will
assist them to dress as others do?
women, who, in return, give all
that makes life desirable to wo-
man.
"Hcar what a writer to the
Chicago Republican says in con-
nection with this subject:
"'One result Of my invcstiga-
tions on this subject is to lead Inc
to the conclusion that the passion
for dress and display is the cause
Of q larger portion Of this evil
than any one other thing. I am
thoroughly convinced that more
girls are seduccd into . life of
shame through q desire to keep
up with the times in fashionable
attire, than in any other way.
In fact, | believe that three out
Of every five enter the gate that
leads to destruction through the
wiles of the temptcr-Fasltion.
"'Thc women themselves, there
fore; who run riot in the extrava.
gauct Of dress, are primarily more
cha:geable, in my opinion, with
the existence and extension OF
the social evil than are the men.
"Oh: mothers, sisters, Christian
women, will you continue to give
impetus to this tide that is drift
ING thousands Of souls to sure and
certain distraction ? Will YOU
permit your innocent children to
give and attend parties where
every t'rivol!ty in dress and amusc-
| ment, everything that can vitiate
! the taste and lead to looseness Of
morals, is tolerated, nay, smiled
upon as pretty, as stylish. These
things arc done-donc BY pa
rents protesting godliness.
"a Christian mother, speaking
within the hearing Of the writer
not long since, told of the num-
her Of parties her child Of nine
years OLD had attended within 4
short space Of time, saying there
were others for which she must
purchase dresses that she might
appear fashionable, adding, the
poor little thing is almost tired
out with tho excitement !
"a writer in one Of our religious
papers states the fact Of a little
boy, *ho boasted the variety of
wines that he had for his birth
day party. Can any one doabt
what the result Of such a course
of education will be on that boy?
These are not isolated cases: they
are multiplying constantly. We
utter this note Of warning as in
duty bound, as guardians of youth,
| as call to mothers 10 guard their
children against these fearful
temptations"
The Leavenwor,h Daily Times, Repub.
licsn, contain letter from Mr.. CasSius
VI. Clay, of Kentucky, to General Will
liam Lerimer Of Kansas, in which the
eminent fitness Of Mr.. Greeley for the
Presidency is strongly urged. If the
! latter is terminated BY the Republicans,