Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-02-03

more to be put away from her than her
own individuality, or to be sighted than
her own dignity. From the very cradle a.
woman child is impressed with the impor-
tance and responsibility of her clothes. y
Yes, Miss Mary, you may go and play
for little while, but if you tumble your
clothes you'll catch it." This exhortation
with variations, has probably been ad-
dressed to every we'll brought-up little
girl since the deluge, and will doubtless
continue to be fashionable long after we
and our great grand children have de-
parted this life. The mental struggles of
Miss Mary during the process of her early
Initiation into the sacred rites of the re-
Egion Of dress are no less piteous than
Iudicrous. A deep sense Of depression
weighs upon her childish spirit as she sees
her brothers fortunate in the possession of
jackets and knickerbockers, jumping and
racing IN an ecstacy Of enjoyment, de-
TERED by no such fears Of tumbling''
themselves as lie heavy upon her. If she is g
little prig she will work this feeling Of envy
Tor her brothers romping games, pretend
ing to prefer a talk with her doll-an idiotic
sham that at heart she thoroughly de-
spises; if she has spirit she will fling pru-
dence to the winds, and dash into the
melee needless Of rents and damages, en-
joying herself keenly, though she knows
al too well the awful punishment that
awaits her when the powers that be dis
cover the disrespect she has dared to show
her Clothes" AS she grows bigger she
will show more sense, connecting Sunday
with the day when she wears a liIac-s
frock, and a hat with white feather.
looking forward to chiIdren's party as
an occasion on which she will be able to
shine forth in white muslin and rose-coI-
Ored ribbons, eclipsing other little girls,
whose mothers are not SO particular about
appearances as her own. She will even
have mild contempt and pity for Tom,
Dick and Harry Whom short time ago
she so bitterly envied) in that their utmost
attempt at self-bedizenment can go no
further than dancing shoes and white
gloves. IF Miss Mary's mother is frivo-
lous, and addicted to the common weak
ness Of striving to Guido her neighbors in
the magnifcence Of her apparel (onIy to
be beaten herself at the next passage of
arms Mary will grow up one Of that terri
bic class of women who spend their lives
in decorating the poor perishable bodies
that were originally made-if they only
knew ito inclose a soul, instead of be-
ing turned into signboards, on which to
display every caprice, absurdity and ex-
travagance the heart of milliner can con-
ceive.
Yet, if the care and consideration she
bestoWs on dress were devoted to some en-
nobling pursuit or useful occupation, she
might be transformed from a mere walk
ing doll to reasoning, sensible human
being; but this she can never be until she
has renowned the oyermastering passion,
and by SO doing purged herself of the de-
Easement and deterioration of mind that
are its inseparable handmaidens. 1t
might surprise her to know that one-qu
ter OF the time she daily expends on her
toilet woulG suffice to teach her at least
one language thoroughly - thn Twelve
month, or that by using the hours she
formerly frittered away in hesitating over
this color or that, she might educate ner-
self SO thoroughly as to have some ground
to go upon should she ever elect to advo-
cate Woman's rights, which we should
CT, civ Cd /,
shame her TO know that she was not en-
dowed with life to make herself simply an
object for mems delectation and women's
jealousy; for to this end does she presum-
ably seek to attain when she spends her
whole existence in seeking the most be-
coming modes Of arraying herself, al
though, alas, she often falls lamentably
short of her purpose, since men, who are
neither fools nor puppies, like simplicity
OF attire; and among women of fashion it
is next to impossible to be first in richness
OF clothes for any length of time.
Ii Miss Mary only knew it, men do but
ask to see their mothers, sisters and
sweethearts daintily clean and fresh in all
their arrangements and appointments, and
as pleasing to the eye as modesty and
moderation permit; but they hate this
loud, greedy, all-absorbing demand for
admiration and pre- eminence in dress that
appears to have fastened upon the girls
and women Of our day like a deadly dis
ease, impossible to be shaken off or eradi-
Gated. They could tell her that more pal
lid hard-worked fathers and husbands are
killed by this same love of "clothes''
than by any sickness or hurt of body, and
that it makes them marvel as to what
manner Of men the future generation will
be with such examples Of levlty and ex-
tavagance before them as their mothers
bid fair to set. So fer as we can remem-
Der our grandmothers were not bitten with
this excessive mania for fine raiment.-
London World.
Explosive Kerosene.