The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-09-30


Shall one who has neither the delights
nor the cares of ''hOme;" who owns
neither the dignity nor suffers the tor
ments' of a housekeeper, venture to tell
industrious and tasteful women that
their "lovely' pillow-shams are not
aesthetic; not, in the words of another,
ito be tolerated in the face of devotion
to art" or, even in appreciation Of the
first principles of art, sincere love OF the
beautiful and the expires sion OF that
which is true as well as its adornment!
And may she predict that both custom
and sincerity villas it ShOuld-abOlish-
veto and lay them away for future ex,
plorers of garrets, chests or secret draw
ers, to find as trophies of antiquity
relies, not of genuine elegance in earlier
times, but-let me spare some possessors
of lovely eyes and pretty fingers, and
be forgiven with the confession that
made by the writer, ''pillow-shams"
We're never fully appreciated. Is it
wonder then that she now glories in GER
tain indications that they are to be
affixed no longer by sovereign Fashion,
Indeed, these fluted and often snowy
,aothtngS have caused volumes of misery
all told of WEAKNESS, impotence, envy
and accrminating words. Only ask u
few women of good memories who have
''boarded around'' by Fate's relentless
fiat; only question few truthful SER
wants, if you can find them; ask few
head wearied husbands who have in their
own houses, in luckless haste, sought
pillows supposed to be their own,
momentarly forgetful of all sbnn1S, and
testimony more than crcumstantial will
hasten your verdict and vindicate COM
plant, and lead you to join this cause
of abolition.
1t has been said by good authority that
"Pillow-shams are essentially Ameri-
can" Alas! and so are many other
shams; probably the word sham itself. In
England and France the 'ladiesh of the
best households are satisfied with lace
trimmed and embroidered linen ''pillow-
cases. to be satisfied with such delicate
suggestions of ease and provisions of
atfiuence or plenty; is simply to be both
tasteful and honest, or in other words,
not only preferring sincerity, but evinc-
ing it; not only being genuine but prov
ing it infinitely.
To employ in paineSt homes white
cotton covers for bed pillows, without
even an edgng of cheap lace, carefully
ironed in orderly folds, changed oftener
than once week if they become soled
or rumpled too much, is, fashion aside,
far nicer and more comfortable than to
waste time with and often be veXed
about ''shams," that, indeed, in many a
sleeping-room are daily laid, or pinaed
up, over soiled cases that would scarcely
offend clearly eye more than do such
dust-heavy, rarel y-washed, often old and
splintered, abominable "ShamS!" But,
ornament the cases, we say, as much as
you please, by tucked or embroidered,
ruflled or laced ends, and the edges of
the open end, which should be buttOned.
Then they will be tasteful-asthetic and
honest, too; only have mercy on your
husbands, fathers and brothers faces,
and not embroder the centers, nor starch
them if rut1led all around! ESQ you do,
of course your own face may bear the
same kind; no matter for that. Some
moralists think that peaceful DISPOSE
ton, serenity of mind, or absence of vio-
lent mental disturbance, with some GER
tainty ensures long life.
Reasonably adding to this among other
favoring conditions a sincerity of mo-
| tive, bought and action which is habitual,
is it not plain, my gentle listeners, that
the end of the pillow-sham institution,
both to please art and fashion-al-
though the census-taker may never know
it-possibly may add five years to the
lives of some feminine organizations?'
Few of us really intend to become sui
cides, if so many will encourage the
corset-maker. The least-loved woman.
while sane, does not prefer to hasten her
demise.
Then, as a disciple of the sincerely
natural, the genuine in spirit, as well as
the truly beautiful, urge you to avoid,
so far as possible in this world of contest,
where right and wrong are so wofully
intermingled, all decisions.
Let us remember the homely but
Scriptural illustration of only making
"clean the outside of the platter" and
endeavor, by Divine aid, to have pure
hearts and minds then shall we be less
tempted to any alfectation of deceit,
however harmless it may seem, or how
ever small it may be. The Frenchman S
policy of mingled hypocrisy and polite.
ness is not to be initiated, even for the
sake of being excessively polite But
again let it be remembered, that French
ladies are above employing Pillow.
shams. "-Emiiy Fletcher Bennett, IN
| Rural NeW- Yorker,