The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1879-04-16
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Editor Bulletin:
Again must beg your indulgence to al
low me brief space in which to make the
attempt to smooth my friend "Practica's"
ruffled feathers little What tempest
in teapot my little article on the folies of
fashion, did raise, 10 be sure.
! am at loss 10 comprehend what point
Practical has proven by advancing as an
illustration the condition Of the freed men
when the right Of suffrage was conferred
upon them. The right was either given in
an endeavor to elevate them as a race, OF
from mere political policy. II from the
latter cause, what mattered il that they
were ignorant and supersiitiousI So much
the easier To bhbe or deceive them il re-
gard 10 this sane right, and make them
willing tools il the hands Of the willy and
dishones, politicians or office-scekers. If on
the other hand, the right was given them
in order 10 elevate them (and let US hope
that this was the case to let them see that
the white people regarded them as reasoning
rational beings, capable Of advancement,
and they as SLAVES, never having had the
opportunity Of show to what extent Their
love Of dress or display might have led
them, this can be no argument neither for
nor against the right TO vote having been
conferred upon them.
What is fashion anyway Is there any
stvle of dress now eXtant that was not at
some time the fashion, asks Practical"
wish that ! might be able 10 make her
understand that il is not the style Of dress
of our grandmoihcrs or mothers that |
would wish to see prevail at the present
day. Can any one doubt that our grand.
mothers and mothers were victims to as
many and unhealthy and absurd fashions
as even the women Of to-day have to con.
tend WITH and may We, as their daughters,
not be paying a pretty heavy penalty for
their errors IN this regard, 10y the constitu.
tional weakness and predisposition to dis.
ease tor which our modern women
arc noted, aggravated by our
own indiscrc,io1l 1t is REFORM in
dress that ! would advocate, not the taking
up Of old folies, out the adopting OF oil
the new reforms IS far IS they have been
proven 10 be helithtul and sensible, and
still working for progression in this cause
until we have brought about form Of
| attire that is at once hcathful, comforta.
bic and modest. And then, Practical, if
the lords of creation, after We have done
all this, still deny US the privilege of cast
Ing our ballot, we will devote our energies
to rearing and training the future states.
men, implanting good and true principles
in the breast Of each one, and through
them help to form the laws that are to
govern us-we will exert our influence over
our fathers, husbands and brothers in such a
manner that politics will become less cor.
rupt We will let them see that We DO not
require large sums of money to make US
happy, contcntcd and attractive, so that
they will not be such mad worshippers
at Mammons shrine, in many cases as to
be led to commit dishonorable acts that
thoy may 10y woalth at cur feet In this
way may we no, be able to inauguratc q
reform in politics as well as bring about a
reform in dress, even though the right Of
suffrage is forever denied us!
CAIRO, April IA, 1870, BEATRICE.