Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-04-04
FASHION AND REFORM.

The spirit of to-day, seems to be
manifesting itself in criticisms upon the
social and domestic evils. which mar the |
harmony, and undermine the happiness
of people, claiming to be civilized |
and protesting to be Christianized.
And since the women of the North,
are leading the crusade against intern
perance, but in a manner not aceepta-
bic to those of the South, We would
suggest to the latter, that there is do
nestle and social evil-second only to
intemperauce, in the evils it inficts
upon the South-which they alone can
reform, without doing violence to their
refinement and womanly purity. That
evil is an unchristian worship of the
idol-fAsHIoS. The tribute paid to
it. in dollars and cents, would suffice to
educate the children of the South, and
the pecuniary endorsements, which
follow Its indulgence, are prolific
source of drunkenness and poverty,
ignorance and vice 1t builds up in
vidious distinctions in society, fosters
envy and uncharitableness, and ELECTS
censorious criticism upon meritorious,
but less favored individuals, who are
not ashamed to avow through their
wardrobe, their inability TO purchase
the costly trappings which are the
badges of wealth, or the false preten-
ces of reckless, initiative extravaganza.
1t does more, it counteracts the infu-
ences of the Church, by vacating seats
that would be filed by the piously in
clined, if they had the moral courage
to despise the critical stare and the
contemptuous sneer, bestowed by the
"Matrons of Millinery" upon a last
seasons bonnet, an unbiased hounce,
or disproportioned dorsal protuber-
ance.
But the evil does not end with those
already indicated The time devoted
TO the discussion of the endless topics
suggested by the ever-changing DEGREES
of fashion, and to the practical illus
tration Of the improvements intro
duced, must lead to the neglect of some
domestic duty. Profitable reading and
moral intellectual training of children,
are neglected, if not forgotten, by the
vain votaries of fashion, who think
more of the fitting of body, than of
fitting themselves, and those dependent
upon them, for the moral and social
duties of life, which none can fail to
discharge without sin, and none can
perform without compensation froman
approving conscience. 1t has seemed
strange TO US, that the women of the
South, with their high intelligence, re-
fined taste and pure motives, should
overlook those grave considerations
and be content with servile imitation
ofthe shoddy aristocracy, of the North,
and the demi- monde of Europe. Why
not get up fashions of their own, based
upon tasteful simplicity, that will last
as long as neat simplicity is beautiful,
and economy, cardinal virtue? Or,
why have fashions at all? Let each
lady, in fashioning her wardrobe have
an eye to her own complexion and
form, adjusting to these-cOlOrs, cut
ting and trimmings, and conforming
the materials to the financial condition
of those who have to foot the bills.
We shall attempt no estimate of the
saving to the South, in money, sent
North, TO meet the demands of tickle
fashion, nor of the accession of con-
tented independence, and the decrease
of poverty and crime that would fol-
low as the consequences of such re-
form. Then, let us have a crusade
against all the hurtful extravagances
of life-not of dress merely, but of
furniture, of eating and drinking, CAD
ding and tattling. Let the ladies of
the South, prove TO the world that
their devotion to the Lost Cause " has
not abated, and that they are as true
TO their native land, suffering the ills
of disastrous peace, as when Its flag
waved in triumph, over many battle
field. Its need, now, is cOmmercialin-
dependence, and this, the ladies can do
very much to achieve. Economy and
home industry are the key to success.
Every dollar saved, at home, hastens
the day of deliverance from servile de-
pendeDce upon the North, and every
dollar sent there, postpones, in the
same ratio, the day when We can claim
to be commercially free, prosperous and