The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-11-01
A Preacher Reads II Lecture on Tfght-
Lacing and Feminine Gossip.

"Wlateycr NAV be the customs ana laws
~ a nation" said Rev. J. IIcryey Bcalr,
preaching sermon TO young women last
evening ut the First Presbyterian church,
Girard avenue and Hanover street, "lt l.
the women who make it, morals. Free OF
i'm subsection, they hold a vast influence.
In whatever light we hold them, 50 are
they going TO reflect back on lis: Man can
not degrade woman without equally de-
grading himself. neither can he elevate her
without elevating himself. The question so
often asked by woman. what can 4 Wo-
man dor need never he asked more than
once. II is frequently asked blythe women
addicted to fashion and gossip and by The
man so unfortunately educated that he
thinks woman has arrived at her highest
pitch Of knowledge when she is acquainted
with household affairs. the latest floating
gossip. or the interior Of Il Young Lady's
Book. would tell young women Of this
description 10 first make clean their hearts
and let their code Of etiquette lc guided
hV Grace. There i no law OF fashion
which can fail to have itS influence on
the soul. We are aware that there are
fashionable habits hidden from light. These
are the most difficult to reform, rs most OF
the energy which should be used in chang
ing them is spent in bringing them io light.
There NAV be- some here Tonight with SUI
fused cheek and curved spine, brought
about by the use OF artificial props. Sons
Of men hold themselves erect without the
use 81 bones except those God gave them.
Why should not women do likewise! No
ordinary evil is doing more damage To the
female sex than the one | refer 10. How
can the depths Of Divine truth reach 4
heart compressed and squeezed within the
narrowc>t possible limits?
Would YOU come Ia church. asked the
speaker. "if NOurfe feet were placed In stocks
and your hands manacIcd? Hardly.
Nevertheless. plenty come here whose feet
and forms are SO compressed that they call
not hear the word Of God. Young men
pl,S INTO cd bachclOrhOod BECAUSE they
fear they cannot support the cXtrayaganccS
Of fashion. Such evils must be changed,
or we are going 10 degenerate. When
women are together they breathe obscrVa-
lions not alicctin" the worth OF another
woman, but her appearance. Something
is always wrong. This one has no
pedigree. That one is foolish hccallSc She
talks too much. Another has hair Of Il
wrong color. or a nose that has been put on
wrong. Some open their mouths too much
when they talk, and others have bangs
made too large. Thoy are always Snccring.
and cannot pass one another on the street
without making unpleasant remarks. .Jca-
lousy and unkindne>s are created. You
will always notice that young man who
hears you making these observations will
Shun YOU. and seek gcntlcncsS among his
own sex.
"Thcrc is nothing so pure and disin-
tercStcd as the love OF a mother" he went
on. "Dcccive her and your feet will
slide. How many young ladies have done
this and regretted il. Let me give you one
word Of advice. He that would persuade
YOU 10 deceive your parents is unworthy OF
confidence. YOu will find that YOU have
exchanged pure, loving parent for sell
fish and cruel husband. The first down
ward step is taken when You deceive your
mother. DO not take it. The man who will
ask yon TO is capable of any trcachcry, and
will east You aside ut any moment. Abide
by your mo hers counsel. Phladeiphia
Times