The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1873-02-20

FoCiAL coenifs- yVUHR IauV VI VIZ
CHESTER, who Is q regular reader Of our
poor Home Journal, and whom we esteem
50 highly that TO tell that esteem, IL we
leo uld, would be to make u little Jealous the
dearest little female on earth to us, wrote
us "A note not long since, and wanted TO
know why wedid not say more In our pa
per about the fashions. We sent her q
note in response, and intimated something
about what we had heard ministers say In
regard to extravaganza OF dress, &c. And
here Is what our dear friend sends back to
us in reply:
DEAR MR.. -, EDITOR ministers
are ycry learned and excellent gentlemen
frequently. If not altogether, and | have
often heard them select Ertrdrdgance in
dress as q topic to discourse upon in
church. And they generally would turn
their optics toward the ladies when they
arose to the Ultima Thule of their fancied
oratorical powers. In fact, extravaganza IN
dress seems to he n favorite topic with the
pulpit, but it has lust about as much effect
on the $50 called fair sex rs indignant
editorials or satirical essays, and the
climax of absurdity IL often reached when
those dull I,arrangues come from L preach
er dressed. himself, in all the requirements
of fashion for gentlemen. TO tell you the
truth. Mr.. Editor, | doubt very much
whether any fashionable female can be
persuaded or driven into Heaven without
her chignons. paniers. and other such
paraphcrnalia; and some one, of the male
persuasion. who overlooks the follics and
faults of men IN order to censure tcOmen-
Just rs the AbolitiOnists would overlook
the beggqrs ut their own doors In order to
crusade upon the Southern people who
held slaves they had paid for-said to me
the other day that If Il women were con-
demncd to be hanged she would imme-
diatcly order n hanging dress, and If she
found it becoming would go to the gal
lows with such ease, grace and fascinati III
that all the other wOmen would be jcal-
Gus and wish to be hanged.
New, the aforesaid gentleman thought
this remark was very smart, and | do not
wish to disturb him in his happy belief.
In fact, when | see vain people would
rather flatter their vanity, for | am sure
that | thereby cause happiness, and in
causing Others to be happy am happy my
self. You need not say that make fools
of them-nature. which has created such
Il harmonious inequality in all things,
saves me the tH uble, even if | were dis
posed TO do so. The gentleman in ques-
tion lives in Winchester. and | merely
mention the fact as a local item. You Of
ten tell us that such items are scarce. and
so you can have this m "withont money
and without price, SO far rs am con.
cerncd.
DO not understand me to be an advocate
~ all fbn g.. cIinnabla fnllipc pftha dow in.
duigcd by ladies. or gentlemen either.
For" example. take a lady's street dress to-
day, and there is nothing so perfectly alb
surd and shocking, not to say indecent.
While she is bumped out behind in arath-
er disgusting manner. her long trail
sweeps up all the fifth with which tobacco
gentlemen ~ garnish her way.
She looks like Il little fool attached to 4
feather bed, and, while trotting along, ev-
cry movement of her person is responded
to by the pamier that bounccs up and
down in the most ludicrous manner.
Well. we dear creatures" know we may
be making guys Of ourselves, but IL pledSes
you gentlemen, and-there is a end of it.
Without your patronage we could not do
so. You pay your money and you take
your choice. :
But what is the use of reverend gentle
men preaching against extravaganza in
The most common observer can
not fail to discern that they follow the
fashion, themselves, of the men, and bcs-
tow upon the pulpit many Il dollar in the
way Of ornament which they would send
to the heather at VA 0tcA doors If they
really were sincere. | am utterly disgust
ed with this sham of the pulpit, AID of the
press also. Let every man keep his w
we would need no municipal law to force
such uuty upon us. And, begging your
pardon for my prolixity, again say. as a
faithful reader of your valuable Home
journal, give once in Il while something
about The Fashions.
Truly. YOUR FRIEND.
NORA BENE.-We have nothing to say.
Write to us again.-LED. HOME JOURNAL.