The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-08-13
The Virtue of Good Dressing.

Lie virtue OF G00d UreSS1nSs
Many are the ill.natured speeches
made about woman's love of dress, but,
for the lone man whose fortune is inn
paired by the e1travagant dressing of
| bis kinswomen, there are many whose
home comfort is daily marred by wives
who profess to have souls above such
vanities. Good dressing on the part OF
q woman is invariably a sign of good
breeding, good taste and good sense,
though there may be women possessed of
all these qualities who do not dress we'll.
But what We mean by "good dressing
must be thoroughly understood. Good
dressing is pre.eminently appropriate
dressing, and its first and most powerful
element is neatness. A woman who
carries on her back the half of her hus-
bands income, though perfect in her
appointments, fastidiously gloved and
shod, crowned with Partisan art and
wearing q gown of price, is badly
dressed, according to our idea of good
dressing. This style of dressing adds no
whit to the happiness of home. The
woman who wears, on shopping expe.
dition or country walk, costly gown
loaded with ornament, however beautiful
such a costume may be when worn at a
ball or grand assembly, is badly dressed.
The poor working girl, clad in clean,
sprigged, twelve-and-a-half cent lawn,
is better dressed than she. Jewels and
fine laces, and fabrics of fabulous worth
are beautiful and valuable things, and
add much to the splendor of effect on
occasions when their use is permissible.
But these are not factors in the good
dressing for which We claim place
among the 6reside virtues.
This good dressing involves perfect
neatness at all seasons, absence of fragile
or useless ornamentation in the attire of
the busy housewife, but an absence, as
we'll, of hair crimpers, curl papers, and
other hideous "aids to beauty" It in.
wolves readjustment, if not complete
change, of attire, at least once day, to
put the wearer in harmony with her
varied duties. It means shining hair,
snowy collars, irreproachable shoes, close
attention to those delicate details, which,
infnitesimally small in themselves, in
the aggregate make OF mar the whole
personality.
These ara the absolute requirements in
that good dressing which we hold to be
a virtue, and they are easily within The
reach of women of the most limited
means. Of course, the woman who can
add to these that eye for picturesque
effect, that perfect taste in the choice of
color and style which is the gift of but
few, or who can embellish the simple
rules that we have laid down With the
aids that money alone can bring, is so
much the more fortunate, and can, to
that extent, enhance the graces of her
appearance. But these are only added
attractions, not essential requisites.
Leisure, as we'll as money, is required
by the good dresser. Ingenious and in.
dustrious women, such as we may meet
with in Charleston every day, often fulfill
the requirements of dainty and charming
attire on the minimum Of expenditure.
But what they lack in money, they must
make up in time and care. As q rule,
"cheap" dress makers do not give that
finish to costume which is necessary to
perfect success, and only less fortunate
than the woman who can indulge in the
services of a frst-class dressmaker is she
who has tha laisuza- alz;ll, ,!ta.-y;-ss-
her simple costumes. The present gen.
eral, if thinly, diffused "art.culture"
might we'll be utilized to add to the
charms of the freside by The woman who
appreciates the virtue Of good dressing.
But, however the result may be OBJ.
tained, whether by the expenditure OF
money, skill, or time, or of the three, it
cannot be denied that the presence of
charmingly attired woman is in itself a
luxury and pleasure, and one which is
quite as essential to the comfort OF
refined home as any luxuries of table or
sinterior" decoration. However ex.
quisitely neat mans home may be, or
however excellent the meal served up to
him, the effect of the whole will be
narred, even to the most unobservant
eye, by the presence Of a carelessly
dressed, heated or dishevelled housewife.
If the wife realized her Importance
and responsibility as the centre and key
note of home, she would more readily
admit that. while table and household
generally should have their due share of
attention and labor, she must not neglect
the chief treasure of her husbands heart,
and the chief factor in the comfort of
his home.
It is strange how many women, most
careful and solicitous as to their neat and
attractive appearance before marriage,
degenerate after marriage into absolute
slovens! 1t is disagreeable idea, but
such course naturally suggests that, in
the language of the cynic, having
"hooked their fish" they have no further
need Of bait. The true woman will hold
her own against the world in her hus'
bands heart, because she knows the
value of triAes in the sum of human
happiness. She feels that she must be
the dearer to herself because she is dear
to some one else, and does not cast aside
the winsome arts of her girlhood as
useless adjuncts, but cherishes with
Jealous care whatever in life, or thought,
or speech, or dress, can bring to her fire.
side an added touch of grace.
Woman is not 80 liable to break forth
into reckless extravaganza as she is TO
degenerate into slovenliness. Sterling
qualities may save her from losing the
interest and affection of husband or
children, but the sloven deprives her
husband of one source of honest pride
aud fond delight, and her children of q
beautiful example, while her home
atmosphere lacks tho delicate charm that
clings about the Greside OF the woman
who cultiyates tho virtue of good dress
Charleston Sunday News.