Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-08-31
QUEEN FASHION.

vi all tu0 tyIaHlS NhO oNot hVlu
dominion in this world, Queen
Fashion :" is the most imperous and
if knew where [ could find band
of faithful followers, | would raise
| the standard Of revolt and dispute
bor authority. But the habit Of ODE
diencc has become so fixed, that it
wouli require greater revelation
than Will ever be accomplished, to
convince people that the dictates OF
common sense and comfort are above
those of Qneen Fashion.
1t is marvellous how every body
obeys her caprlcious bohests, Whom
tall hats, Byron collars and high
hoeled boots are all the rage, and all
gentlemen are happy in the posses
sion of them, she suddenly. issues
command that Kossuth hats, low
heels and narrow collars shall be
worn. When full, trailing skirts are
worn, and ladies of limited means
have Just spent their last dollar TO be
ia style, her agcnts-the mantua
makers-announce narrow skirts
without trains.
Her capriciousness could De en-
dured if she was not so unreasonable.
Often the change she orders is for
the worse, being neither so comfort
abs nor becoming as before. Her
commands are positively tyrannlcal,
without rhyme or reason. For IN
stance, when fur capes are worn, she
orders boa, and capes are immediate
" cast in tie shade. She is SO ex-
acting as to be absolutely without
mercy. She holds her followers to
the strictest obedience, and any de-
parture from her commands is regard
cd as treason. S0ciety-her exeon.
tive authority-is unrivaed in faith
fulness to her interests. 1t true,
she does not infict the death penalty,
but advises ostracism, which society
never fails TO enforce.
Talk about being independents, and
doing as you please 1t is almost
impossibls. Society baniahes those
who do not obey the dictates OF It's
sovereign. If you do not believe it
appear at church in a cast Oil gar
ment of few Years back, and then
observe who shakes hands with you,
how many cards of invitation you
will receive. See if your former
friends do not stare at you as If they
doubted your sanity. There is no
use in trying to be an Independent
follower. If one does not follow
every extreme. it keeps them follow
ing at a distance. Her power ex-
tends from one pole to the other.
Nor is it limited to drcss alone. 1t
is extended to ones style Of living
and even to modes of blinking How
much larger the churches are than II
Queen Fashion frowned on religIa n.
The evils of her tyranny are too
numerous To mention. A few are as
follows: First, constant change
compels people of limited means and
weak minds to overdo, that they
may avoid the penalty Of disobedi-
ence. Second, increasing efforts to
keep up with the prevailing modes,
occupies the time that God has given
us for improving tho mind, which -
weakened for lack of nourishment.
And last but not least, the necessity
of complying with he demands often
urges people to live beyond their
means, and plunges many into ruin.
1t may be well to ask what she ls
doing for her subjects, while they
are laboring under these disadvent-
ages. What is she fitting them for !
For teachers, patterns or preachers
No for none of these, except as fol-
~ teaches the wise. She certainly
is not fitting them for usefulness.
Her most favored ruhl 'cts may be
ornamental in reserved seats and
parlor Windows, but that i-"-'t above
dolls aDd catsa vases, I'd y not woT-
thy the labor it requires. Ii it's the
goal of their ambitions, they must be
satisfied to have their minds fettered