Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-08-17
THE AATI.HANG CRUSADE.
Extravaganza in Dress and Tresses
to be Ruthlessly Put Down by
the Canadian Clergy.
Wearers of Dainty Costumes 10
be Declared sinners.
By telegraph 10 tbe UoraId.

MONTREAL, August l5.-Whlle the
dispatch announcing the pastoral OIL
His lordshin Bishop Iafeche, has
caused a ripple ofexcitement in some
circles, there has as yet been no Off
cial announcement OF it to the Mon
treal clergy, Three Rivers is q city OF
few newspapers and cannot be reached
by telegraph on Sunday. A talk to
some OF the church authorities here
developed the fact that the crusade
against the curled hair is not a newly
inaugurated one. More than a month
ago his Lordship, Bishop Fabre, OF
Montreal. read a pastoral directed at
the method Of dress in his diocese;
and he was quite right, too" said Mr..
j. i. Casside, q we'll known member
Of the church here. There is such
extravaganza nowadayst that we cannot
tell the difference between mistress
and maid. | defy any one to do il"
Bishop Fabre, it appears, had ex
pressed himself as deeply panied at
the extravaganza in dress of members
of the congregations, and his edict in
favor of more modest attire was read
throughout the diocese at the time.
Truly the extravaganza in dress of
church going people merits the sting
ing rebuke that has been given, as the
young ladies of the period seem to
think of little else save personal
decoration and how to outdo each
other in the silk and laces with which
each one bedecks herself. To stand
upon the steps of Notre Dame on a
Sunday morning a'ter church is to get
a glimpse of a fairy.like panorama
the b%ounets, the hats, the parasols, the
jewelry and ornaments, all in a variety
.ofstyles fthe extravaganza the church
seeks to check. One cannot withstand
the witching glances of these French
demoiselles as they trip jauDtily down
the steps, glancing archly along
the line of young g~allants, each await
ing his lady for the walk home alter
mass. Then the light gossip chases
thoughts of the sermon entirely out of
the young heads as they saunter home
ward. The church objects to all this.
Then, the music and enjoyment Of
Sunday afternoon and evening form
another feature Of the French Cana
dian homes which appears to have
given much %offense, as the pastoral of
NOnseignor Laheche is to be directed
against music, In The French quar-
ters Of the city the sounds of cornet,
clarionet and violin are often to be
heard of a quiet Sunday evening, while
the upper crust have their pianos.
Snatches of opera, romantics Of the old
French school, and quaint ballads that
have been handed down from time
antedating the Conquest. can be heard
often times in St. Denis, st. Hubert,
Sherbrooke and many other of the
streets OF well to do French Canadians.
They enjoy these artistic tidbjts, and
they seem innocent enough of harm
too; but the mandate is to interfere
with all but classic music.
Father Campion, one Of the many
respected clergymen of the cathedral
of Notre Dame, answered the sum-
mons at the Grand Seminary, and
being appealed to for some inlorma-
ton regarding the Laaeche pastoral,
could give no information save that
no such pastoral had been read from
Notre Dame pulpit. He believed that
if Bishop Laaeohe intended any de-
nunciation Of curled hair and light
music, the pastoral would be read in
Three Rivers and afterward sent to
Montreal.
BISHOP FABRE's OPINIONS.
A visit to His Lordship Bishop
Fabre was next in order, and the
grand old gentleman wal very cordial
in giving information. He remarked
that as long ago as 1873 the question of
dress of the young girls had come be-
fore the Grand Council of Bishops
and they determined upon trying to
work reform in the style. Younggirls
did rot always dress as modestly as
the clergy wished, and the matter had
been talked Of by the sisters, too, with
a view to checking extravaganza.
Some recommendations were made
and we're embodied in the DEGREES of
that council, which we're under the
rules sent to Rome for approval or
rejection. These DEGREES had recently
come back TO Canada and were given by
the Bishops to their clergy, and were
read to the Aocks of the faithful by
the cures ofeach parish. He believed
that Bishop Laheche was absent at
Rome when these DEGREES were re-
ceived here, and perhaps, as he had
recently returned, he intended to read
them and have them promulgated in
his district. That was probably the
basis of the report concerning the pas
toral letter. He believed that had
there been any other reason the pasto-
raj letter would have, been communi-
Gated to His Lordship as the Bishops
always interchange their pastorals.
Although the Bishopsof Montreal did
not insist very strongly upon the let
ter of the law, it is said that Bishop
Laheche will do 80. The reading Of
the decree on dress. it is said, has had
a decidedly good effect in toning down
the gay attire Of the ladies. Bishop
Laheche was expected to 60 further
and forbid the frizzed and curled hair
and light music on penalty Of the lady
committing sin. This will have the
fleet of banishing the bangs and
loosening the puIlbacks. How it will
effect the music it is not easy to say
as there is such a charm about French
music that most of il is worthy to
come within the term classical"