Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1872-01-06
A yiclop,s Practice,

There has lately been grand ball given
At Austin on the completion of No Air
Line Branch II the Central RAILROAD to
that city, Which Wa5 very appropriate for
so joyous an event, and large number of
the ladies and gentlemen from Houston
and Galveston attended. 1t was, no doubt,
. very brilliant affair and quite worthy OF
beihS noticed by lhe press. Our worthy
cote mporary Of the Houston Tclegrap' de-
votes n corsia srate space Of His daily is
sue, which we are always glad to receive,
to a description Of this ball, AMI the names
and dresses Of many Of the air ladies' pres
ent, married and single, are given with
the particularly, which distinguishes such
reports in the Northern newspapers. lie
will pardon ~ for 50, ing that he has not
been very successful in this attempt, and
that we are not sorry for it, We had hop
ed this vicious practice Of giving the names
and describing the dresses of Indies ON
such occasions would never prevail, to any
great extent, in the South, but we r9iieve
that we are doomed to disappointm' It in
this as well as many other hopeful eAoect
atoms. Every wrongful and repre' .nsi-
BILE innovation of tho reck ess progre on
lists of the North is soon initiated by emu
lous admirers at .he South. Can this prac-
tice be defended? Are we to be told that
all this is right and proper? Will our
brother of the Telegraph, who is, we be-
iievc, member of the Church, answer, yes,
Of course-what are your objections? As
sinner, We reply, no objection whatever to
balls, parties and dancing-very harmless,
il properly conductcd--,but very serious
object ion to The dcscrt t,.tn of what indi-
vidual ladies wore on such occasions, or
even in giving publicity to their names. 1t
is calculated to, destroy that shrinking del
icAcy of feeling, which is the of the pecu-
liar charms of the sex, aud to give them
on inclination for notoriety and public
display, which results in no gool to them
lives or to others. II creates rivalry
among them as to their dresses and person.
al appearance, when they know that every
thing is to be reported in the newspapers
how they looked, what they did and
what they wore, from the crown Of their
heads TO the soles OF their feet. This pub
licity creates txtravagance in dress, Tor
usually it is only the more costly costumes
and the pearls and the diamonds, which are
noted and blazoned abroad. 1t produces
also, bad feeling On the pars Of those who
were present and not noticed by the re-
porlers. 1t prevents many poor girl,
fond OF the innocent amusement OF dan
cling, whose young hear: bounds at the
sound of violin, from attending party,
or running the risk of having it stated
that she only wore plain muslin dress,
or not being noticel at all in the grand
description. And admitting That these par
,iculariies are harmless, which we deny,
of whal earthly or heavenly interest is il
to Ne told that Mrs. Celebrity Dlreall wore
n broca led silk, CIT low in the bosom, and
that Miss Flirli'ia Tiptops train rivaled
in length and gorgeou4ness the tail of
peacock? The practice is al wrong, hal
hna done much to delhoralze the country
and make IL what il is, u sad spectacle TO
contemplate But SO it is, the newspaper,
that will not go into all these foolish and
wicked innovations, isdeemcd slow coach,
and dcl ided for its lack ofprogress. Well,
well, we had rather jog slowly along to-
wards heaven than to make rapid trip
to-n place we have no fancy for at
all. lie, every one do what seemeth best
in his own eyes. We charge nothing ex-
tra Tor this sermon not being regularly
licenced. Our readers are heartily well
come 70 it, ana we trust brother Webb will
take i, in good part, L he does moi profit by