The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1880-08-27
ABOUT DRESS.


Bless the dear souls who write such
long articles against extravaganza in
dress | They must expect their advice
to be needed, or they would not make
such an effort; but, in reality, how
much of a reformation has resulted from
all this How many in the surging
crowd Of fashion stop to listen to the
voice Of warming, and, seeing their folly,
struggle free from the enthrallments
that urge them on? II is as useless TO
attempt radical change for the better
by advising economy as to stand on the
sen beach during storm and command
the waves to cease lashing the shore.
II you could ever hope to quell the
storm, You must first find the causes Of
the commotion and then exercise them.
What, then, causes this mania for
dress? "Female vanity" Is your first
thought No, / cannot agree to that,
though vanity is purely female at
tribute. Who ever saw a man with any
such rubbish in his nature? There is an
incentive to " dress well which does
more toward extravaganza than mere
vanity. Did You ever notice the dis
tinction paid to q "stylish " lady?
Have you ever seen one more plainly
dressed, though perhaps her superior in
good breeding and refinement, sit in the
shade while homage is being paid to
dress The question is not asked,
"How did she get her outfit? Is her
father or husband secret forger? Is
he standing on false basis which is
ready to crash at any time and carry
many creditors down to ruin with him,
or is she doing what so many think
harmless thing, monopolizing resources
which should be expended for the com
fort of her family2" Oh, no that is not
"the way Of the world" Even those
who deprecate the sway Of this evil the
most bow to it as low as any.
Policy has her eye in another direc-
ton. It is something to be on equal
footing with leader of society, and in
order to do SO hundreds Of dazzled
mothers huttering around the brilliant
light spend their all in o delusion, and
fall, ruined specks of humanity. Be
cause cur millionaires' wives and daugh-
ters have the choicest fabrics brought
from all parts Of the globe for then
adornment, the second and third classes
will wear nothing but imported goods as
near match in richness as they posi-
bly, can procure, and the fourth grade
With truly American ambition, think i
they can't always have the real they vii
, manage to have as good an imitation q
they can, and many little sum finds it
way out Of the savings bank to buy
! triAe of lace or jewelry. The humble
classes bring up the rear in this train
and their plant accords with the Irish
:, mans, The money goes faster nor
comes"
Listen to the beautiful sentiment owe
the girl who goes to ball in simpl
white muslin and natural flowers br
. the same young gentleman who woul
! grow ecstatic over "beauty unadorned
: pays homage to the most stylish youn
j lady of his set, brilliant in satin an
: lace beaded with seed pearls. Wort
! and actions are fittest when they go t
. gether, and, if husbands and lovers Al
= sincere in their desire to uproot tn
q evil, let them arise in solid phalar
! against it. They are the ones who q
i courage it by their homage, and th'
1 are the ones who must expect to furnii
4 the wherewithal by which women a
clothed. Now, gentlemen, there
a. something beside complaining TO do,
ro go manfully to work.