The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1876-06-02
Fashion. Folly and Health.

We seek out for ourselves many de-
vices which entail misery and death
upon the race. Refusing to follow the
| suggestions of common sense, we waste
our earnings and our lives at the shrine
of fashion. If religion and philanthropy
| received a 1.-THE of the contributions
which are gladly given TO fashion, the
improvement in the morals and the
health of the people would be great.
| Well, what are we going to say about it2
| Only this, and that only with the hope
that a few may be induced to give at
| tention to the subject: The partnership
| between fashion and health Is cOntinu-
| Ously injurious 10 vigorous life, and Is
| apt to end in bankruptcy of purse and
| person. We are aware that few enter
| prises are so hopeless as a contest with
| fashion, but still more may be deferred
from following that goddess blindly.
| Medical men tell Us that diseases are
multiplying, that new arrangements Of
| the system are manifesting themselves in
a way which requires new remedies and
new thought for their treatment. In
the science of medicine great progress
| has been made since the beginningo of the
! century, but human stupidity and folly
have advanced more rapidly. With the
invention of the sewing machine (which,
| rightly used, is of incalculable benefit to
| society came in a new danger TO health
and life. Our grandmothers were con-
tented with SIX or seven yards of mate
rial for dress; their granddaughters
will not look at anything less than three
times as much; and all this bundle OF
dry goods is suspended from the wasp
like waist instead of the shoulders
Where such unaccountable folly pre-
walls is it any wonder that diseases are
increasing, that half the children die
under five years Of age, and that the
percentage of people who 90 through life
afflicted with all sorts of rnaladies is
greater than ever? Family life is rem
dered unenjoyable and almost impossible
by fashion and its wastage of money,
health and life.
We are not now abiding to those
thoughtiess creatures with draggletails
who are in the habit of spending their
nights at the poisonous opera and the
theater, but to the same class of peacocks.
who are on the church rolls. Here is
where we look for light and example, but
we look in vain; and when we look we
see the world pointing its finger of scorn
at us and asking: Where is the difference
between the church and the world? The
miserable sinners" of each are upon
par. Fashion commands to revel the
most of the night in overheated, crowded,
and badly ventilated rooms, and many
obey. The most of the next day they
slumber away in apartments that are not
managed on hygenic principles. Is it
any wonder so many are in physical
trouble and die as the fool dieth? The
balmy fresh air invites us to its embrace,
but we are too languid to accept the
cheerful and kindly invitation.
Fashionable society calls such course
enjoyment and too many Christians (per- !
haps emily in naine) fret that they can
not, with the fullest freedom, mingle |
with the devotees of fashion. Are not |
the evil things the natural things, and |
do not the majority take to them as |
duck to the water? tAAshion is the god |
dess that empties the nurse, ruins the |
body,sand destroys the soul Place |
before Be, ssld the dying and in1t mi
tent actress, fIliy jefa,ls and ward n Is.
that | nsay take a last look at thel.
I die l
{ ! - me. Z S.ss: 80 m
1T is not ouIy waists and oes
subjected to Chilgsse pressure lbu +
part OF thef system IS tlIfoEh n
healthful equilibriuns IN tie bliIM ~
loving after fashi6n which seems be
fastening itself upon us more firml .,an
ever with its dreadful incubus. Isthere
a remedy Yes; and it is to be found in
religion and common sense.-N y. Illness.