The Van Buren press., 1875-04-13

One of the prevailing vices of our day is
the inorlinate love of dress. which has so en-
trely taken possession of the young women
of our time. Nor does it coniinc itself to that
particular class of society who are abundant
ly able TO crafty their every whim in this re-
spect but it peers in, with its insidions face
to the houses of the poor, carrying with 1t
envy and di.content, The poor man tired
the wearying labors of the day, returns to his
home to rest in the bosom Of his family. lie
enters the house, to be greeted only with Bit
ter complaint One Of the 2irlsin the neigh
berhood has been there, during the evening,
wearing new dress superior to any worn
by the poor woman's daughters. Envy, jeal
ousy. covetousncss and discomfort enter her
breast, and chase from 1t every yestige Of
peace. Her daughte must have dress like
the young lady's. The first words that greet
the poor laborer-~ho is barely able to stop
the mouths of those who are dependent upon
him for bread-as he enters his home Is, d" Ma
ry must have a new dress" Or course the
husband could not and did not comply with
the demand, and the peace Of the family was
disturbed for a while. This is no fancy sketch
but picture true to life. The rich dress fine
ly, often extravagantly, and those in more
moderate circumstances desire to initiate their
example. This begets the most silly species
of vanity, and opens the road to immeasura-
BILE trouble Every grace and virtue hide
themselves in the presence Of this shadowy
vice. We like to see girls dressed neatly and
WELL but we do not like to see it take the
precedence Of every thing else in their minds.
The lines drawn, and the man and woman are
Judged by the quality and cut of their habili-
ments, and his or her place in society, is mea-
sured not by their mental and moral worth
but rather by the species of clothes worn. Go
to our churches, not alone in Van Buren, but
everywhere, and see the gaudy garments that
are worn, and then answer to your own hearts
the question: DO not half the people 90 to
church to show their clothes, and become en-
yious of those who are better hablted than
thcmselvcs?" The children of the poor are
kept from day school. from church, and even
Sunday school, and why? Because of the ri.
diculous vanity Of their parents-thcy are not
well enough dressed, and. therefore. they can
not be allowed to avail themselves Of the
knowledge. secular and christian, which they
may have merely for the asking. II this be
true, and we think no one will attempt to de-
ny it, were we not right when we said, at the
start that the inordnatc love ofdress was one
If the deadly ices because with it are closely
associated an innumerable catalogue Of sins.
Now, We do not wish to be misunderstood. To
he mere matter of love of dress when subor-
Innate to the other and noblcr feelings of the
mind, we have not a solitary objection. We
ike to see our young ladies-and old ones,
oo-wcll dressed; but we do not like to see
hem devote to it all their time and their every
.hought. Decorate your bodies. girls and
make them look rs beautiful aS YOU can, but
10 not forget to cultivate and adorn your
mind with the graccs of simplicity and hut
mility. When YOU have robcd the caskct in
a vesture Of beauty. may you not forget that
= inward adorning' which, from the jewelcd
soul within, flashes in charity from your eyes
bushes in simplicity on your cheeks, and
speaks in the sweet accents of humility. Re
member. girls. the grandcst handiwoak of
Deity is beautiful. humble and unassuming
woman. Again, girls, we say, dress well, but
dress within your means, and do not allow it
to become such passion OF your nature as
to make YOU cnvious, covctouS, and diScon-
tented with the station of life In which Prov
dcncc has placed you.