The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-05
Despotism Of Fashion.

An eminent English writer says that
Americans enjoy less real liberty, outside
Of political rights, than the people of
any country in Europe. He says we
accept our fashions in everything from
Europe in a blind and slavish acquies-
cence in marked contrast with our jeal-
ousy of political interference and des-
potism. Even in politics, he says, the
same disposition is apparent, for third,
or independent party, is impossible. In
Germany and France there are many
parties, but in great, free America there
is only room for two. Independence in
thinking is rare, and more rarely takes
shape in action. The aesthetic craze has
not developed any American standard of
taste. From somewhere comes periodi-
cally decree in fashions, against which
no American woman dare to rebel.
However ill-s1lited to climate or COM
plexion, the style is inexorable. The
contest is simply as to precedence Id
acuuiescence. No one dares to revolt.
Thus upon the American people are
forced fashions in dress for men, women
and children, house furnishings, and
even house architecture, often most pre-
posterous and barbarous. The cart
wheel style of bonnets occurs as one
of the denominations in dress, a
. fragrant violation of good taste as well
as of the rights of others in public
assemblages.
But somebody must originate these
never-ending novelties. Some brain
has been tortured somewhere to invent
something startling The wonder is tnat
the decree is accepted SO uncomplain-
| ingly. However preposterous or absurd,
there is no remedy. 1t is this meek
| subservience of Americans to the behests
| of fashion which makes the birth and
| growth of any real standard of taste i'm
| possible. The spirit of discomfort and
rebellion must precede every successful
revolution. As in China, the inherited
| spirit of obedience stands squarely in
the way of every effort at progress.
| There was a people once who had, in
| dress and architecture, standard which
has passed unquestioned. 1t did not
| fluctuate at the bidding of milliners or
the question of dollars and cents. Nothing
more plainly evidences our singular
backwardness in some of the higher at
tributes of civilization than the feet that
we must dress at the dictation of some
/ llupcIlOuS duO lyIdu WAOoS
exact location, tenure of office, or extent
of power no one knows. There are ma
tions yet which have national costume.
| Any one who has ever attended fair al
Buda-Pesth has seen men and women
from provinces dressed in most grotesque
outre fashion, but just as their ancestors
have dressed for ages. The effect is
striking, novel and sometimes beautiful.
It is question whether their never
changing fashion is more inimical to the
growth of correct taste than our ever.
changing styles. About as much liberty
and discretion is allowed in one as the
other. They accept their grandparents
clothes because they were the fashion
and we often do the same thing because
they will be. The authority is equally
shadowy and doubtful in both cases. A
woman on the Danube has no more no
tion of making dress to suit her in
dividual taste and complexion, shape o.
stature, differing from her set, than one
here. The goddess the .e is as fixed an6
changeless as Brahma Here, like the
Romans, we naturalize all the gods, nc
matter how inconsistent, only stipulatine
that any new ones shall come in like
terms. Journal.