The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1876-06-01
WELSH RAHEHIr.


We seek out for ourselves many de.
upon the race. Refusing to follow the
suggestions Of common sense, We waste
our carnings and our lives at the shrine
Of fashion. If religion and philanthropy
received II 1.-THE Of the contributions
which are gladly given to fashion, the
improvement in the morals and the
health Of the people would he great.
Well, what are We going to say about it,
only this, and that only with the hope
that u few may b" induced TO give at.
tcntiOn to the subject The partnership
between fashion and health is c|ontinu
ollsIy injurious a. vigorous life, and is
apt to end in bankruptcy Of purse and
person. We are aware that few enter.
priscs are 50 hopeless rs Il contest with
fashion, but still more may he deferred
from following that goddess bIindIy.
Medical men tell us that diseases are
multiplying, that new arrangement, Of
the system are maniicsting themselves in
n way which requires new remedies and
new thought for their treatment. In
the science of medicine great progress
has been made since the bcginningol the
century, but human stupidity and folly
have advanced more rapidly, With the
invention of the sewing machine (Which,
rightly used, i, of inCalcuIablc benefit to
society came in a new danger to health
and life. Our grandmothcr- were con
tented with six or seven yards Of mate
rial for a dress; their granddaughtcrs
will not look at anything less than three
times rs much; and all this bundle oI
dry goods is suspended from the wasp
like waist Instead Of the shoulders.
Where such u%naccountnhlc 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 60 through life
afflicted with all sorts of maladics is
greater than ever? Family life is rem
dcrcl uncnjOyablr and almost impossible
by fashion and its wastagc Of money,
health and life.
We are not now abiding To those
thouGhtlcss creatures with dragvIc.aiIS
who are in the habit of spending their
nights at the poisonous opera and the
thcatcr, but to the same class of pcacocks,
who arc on the church rolls. Here is
where we look for light and example, but
We look in vain; and when we look we
zee the world pointing its finger of .corn
ut Us and asking: Where il the difference
between the church and the world? The
'mlscrablc sinners of each are upon a
par. Fashion commands to rcycl the
most Of the night in ovcrlcatcd, crowded,
and badly ventilated rooms, and many
obey. The most of the next day they
slumbcr away in apartments that are not
managed on hygcnic principles. Is it
any wonder 50 many are in physical
trouble and die ~ the fool dicth? The
hnlmy fresh air invites Us to ilscmhrlrr.
but we are too languid To acccpt the
cheerful and kindly invitation.
Fashionable society calls such a course
enjoyment and too many Christians (pcr.
maps only IN nanc) fret that they can
not, with the fullest freedom. minrlc
with the dcvOtcCs of fashion. Are moi
tls evil things the natural things, and
do not the majority take Ia them as a
duck to the water? Fashion is the god.
i"SS that cmptics the purse, ruins the
body, and destroys the soul. place
before me- said the dying and impeni.
tent actress, my Jewels and wardrobcs,
that may take a last look ut them ere
| die
with the return of spring thequcstion
IN almost every household is again about
lhe spring bonnet aud the new dress.
" Is not only waists and toes that are
subjected to Chinese pressure, but every
part ol the system is thrown out OF
healthful equilibrium by the blind fol-.
lowing after fashion which seems To bc
fastening itself upon us more firmly than
ever with its dreadful incubus. |. there
Il remedy? Yes; and it is to I've found in
religion AMI common sense. - v T. UIh,oss,
WHAT STOPPED II ARGrMENT-
Two men, with spare time I'm tbo;,