The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-12-12

Eds. CLARION As predicted in my last
article, a smile comes from one, and re-
Duke from another, in all pioneer work.
In the exercise of this my prerogative, so
accorded, / do not wish to be alone, but
would share the subject with others inter
ested; and wish to see sensible women to
the front who are governed by reason; and
will stand by what they say. l see some
thing said in a Natchez paper which is a
sarcastic retort on my first effort, but see
the subject in too grave and important q
light to deal with it differently, and from
some remarks from my assailant am led to
the opinion that she is in disguise, seeing
everything just as / do; and l believe she
is so sensible that she would welcome the
day she could dress plain, and dress her
children as best suited her means, but she Is
afraid OF the consequences. Now, why not
throw off your mask, good lady, and help
to make war upon this mighty tyrant set
I'D in our midst: usurDing powers; chain
ing us in letters, to the subvertlng of our
best, driving us to despond, making men
prematurely grey, driving some to reckless
dissipation, some to the mad-house. and
others to the grave. | am aware of the
breakers ahead should you attempt to set
form of wearing your bonnet, hat or dress,
which is pretty becoming, season too long
and ask where is the source of all this folly
and evil? Let us decipher the whole matter
and see, then answer where Is the sense in
making all this anxiety and trouble and de-
spondency. We see the crime. We see the
tendency. What the color and cut of the
coat, the expensivenesS of the outfit, shall
be more needed than common sense; or all
moral worth com bined with industry and
integrity, shall all fall down and worship
too at this shrine, or find place as inferior
in rank? l am inclined to take the blame
home to ourselves, or we would lop off some
of this growing incubus. aAd vie with each
other in saving Or trying to save something
at home from a salary which is barely
enough to make home comfortable, and
when judiciOusly expended buy hat, dress
or bonnet when needed. But the latest
style, and made and trimmed in New York
at a certain house, has superior charm or
grace a bout it, to any we can make or trim
here. Perhaps that honest, poor woman
feels that If we would patronize her en-
deavors t. please our refined taste, she could
live by her honest trade, but we have
shrinking adherence TO all things home
made, which is finding its way into every
family and house and even into our closets,
buying everything we eat, everything we
wear, everything We use. in every cOnceiv
able shape and form, calculated to impOver-
ish us. and take the last nickle made here
to Yankeedom, when we have just at our
hands to make those identical things, a land
teemin2 with fruits, and yet we must send
on for them, or they have home made
look; our jellies and preserves cannot be
made at home, it gives little trouble. |
might enumerate thousands of other things
vitality connected with, and essential to our
better interests. Suffice 1t to say we grow
poorer by the day; can't educate our chill
dren; can't pay our debts; can't pay our
minister--times are so hard in fact we can't
help in any good and the answer comes to
each why? Responsive and loud. because
OF love of self and ease. FERREE.
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