The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-06-19
Folly and ~Frippery.'

Spencer, from which the subjoined extract
is taken. As a matter of course. our gifted
editorial brother amid the classic shades of
the University, writes strongly, teellngly,
and with sound sense in every line. But
she fires a blank shot so far as regards any
possible effect on the present day and gen
Grafton, King Canute may take his seat on
the moral sea-shore to order back the fast
rising waves of ''folly and frippery," but
with no other result than a thorough wet
ting for himself, and a mighty disgust over
the whole affair.
An experience of nearly a dozen years in
journalistic life convinces us, beyond doubt
or question, that precisely nine hundred and
ninety-nine human bipeds whether in pet
~ticoats, or breeches) in every one thousand,
like to see their names in print, and like it
the better in proportion to the profusiOn of
personal particularly. We could multiply
instances, with names and circumstance,
that would be very amusing. 1t was onlyre-
Gently that Of two dailies in a certain city,
one gave a very full and fattering account
Of the participants in a public entertainment;
whereas the other passed it with a few gen
eral phrases, descriptive but not personal.
The mailing clerk of the paper which con-
tanned the ford account was besieged all
next day by little negro messengers sent to
buy one or two dozen "extra copies" and
it happened by mistake of direction there
came to our hands a note from a ''party"
whom we have heard rather severely de-
claim against newspaper notoriety"-ask-
ing for an unusual number-'sof O u very
popular paper, to which we expect to sub
scribe when our present" etc! etc!
The trouble is not with the newspapers,
but with the public. In local and social
matters particularly, the newspaper is apt to
be the barometer of popular taste. IF our
friend would get a candid opinion let her ask
some young lady who attended the Univer-
sity balls-(or let her ask the mother, or
aunt, or cousin, of the aforesaid young LADY,
which of the two Raleigh dailies had the
best account of the commencement; the one
which named and described the bellies, or the
one which merely alluded to the youth, beau
ty, and wit of the young visitors! Orlet her
ask some young lady whose name, beauty,
and ball dress, were accidentally omitted
from the list, how she liked the account in
the offending paper.
In truth there is in these things a BE
fore-the-W War;" and an "After-the-War''
style of taste. And the difference between
them is about as great as between a Waltz
and a Lawn Party. The fault is with "Old
Adam who always sciH make US think the
naughtier the incest. Of course we all see
whittier this tendency to publicity and dis
play may lead. Fashionable ladies in Paris
and London exhibit plaster casts of their
legs and bust; and in Zulu land it is said to
be fashionable to wear-well, at any rate,
a thin shoe string tied round the waist.
Oh, dear!-'Tis a sad, sad world! Some
body hand us a fan! 1t is too shocking to
think about-in such weather. If ever we
happen to invent any babies-especially girl
babies-we mean to bring 'em updifferently.
Salt wouldn't save the present generation
However, perhaps all may not be lost that
is in danger" There may be a tiny modi-
cum of benefit in reproducing these words
of a thoughtful Southern mother and here
they are:
The fashion OF devotlng columns to a
description of the dresses worn by our
ladies on all public occasions has had the
effect to stimulate feminine rivalry and love
OF display to an unprecedented degree.
We take occasion to say that the practice is
a pernicious one, and utterly foolish and
pretentious, and should be abolished; and
that besides the graver objections, there are
features of absurdity and ridicule in it
which are patent to all. Queen Victoria's
Court Journal has long delighted the fun
kies Of the English middle and lower classes
with minute reports of the court dresses of
princesses, duchesses, and countesses ; and
when the diamonds and laces are historical
as we'll as the names of the wearers, there
would seem to be some excuse for the prac-
tice, some reason for the pleasure it gives a
poonlo loral 70 ON aaa:aa.