Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-05-21

sight of his former occupation, and
assumed a new character and a new
line of life,-like the soldier, who,
when he receives his discharge and
laws aside his regimentals, soon
loses the feeling Of a soldier, and
even forgets in some degree his
manuel exercise.
Had not commerce furnished the
means of changing the dresses OF
our people and the furniture of their
houses-had the hunting shirt,
moccason, and leggins, continued
TO be the dress of our men-had
the three-legged stool, the noggin,
the trencher and wooden bowl, con-
tinued to be the furniture of our
houses,-our progress towards
science and civilization would have
been much slower.
1t may seem strange that 80 much
importance is attached to the infiu-
ence of dress in giving the moral
and intellectual character ofsociety.
In all the institutions of despotic
governments we discover evident
traces of the highest grade of hu-
man sagaclty and foresight. Unjust
have been the object of the founders
Of those governments to reprecs the
genius of man, diyest the mind OF
every sentiment of ambition, and
prevent the cognizance Of any rule
of life, excepting that of a blind
obedience to the despOt and his es-
tablished institutions of religion
and government; hence the canon
ical laws of religion, in all govern.
ments despotic in principle, have
prescribed the costume of each class
of society, their diet and their man.
ner of eating it; and even their
household furniture is in like man.
ner prescribed by law. In all these
departments, no deviation from the
law or custom is permitted or even
thought of. The whole science OF
human nature, under such govern
ments, is that of knowledge OF
the duties of tn 9 station of life pre-
scribed by parentage, and the whole
duty of man that of a rigid per-
formance of them; while reason,
having nothing to do with either
the one or the other, Is never cult.
waited.
Even among christians, those
founders of religious societies have
succeeded best who have prescribed
a professional costume for their
followers, because every time the
disciple looks at his dress he is put
in mind of his obligations to the 60
ciety to which he belongs, and he
ia therefore tho less liable to wander
into strange pastures.
The English government could
never subdue the esprit dH cour OF
the north of Scotland, until, after
the rebellion of AS, The prohibition
of wearing the tartan plaid, the
kilt and the bonnet amongst the
Hlghlanders, broke down the spirit
of the clans.
l have seen several Of the Mora
vian Indians, and wondered thaI
they were permitted to wear th'
Indian dress. Their conduct, wher
among the white people, soon con
J yinced me that the conversion o.
those whom | saw was far from
being complete.
There can be little doubt but tha
, IL permission should be given by
, the supreme power ofthe Mussulmar
: faith, for change, at the will o
. each individual, in dress, household
= furniture, and IN eating and drink
;. ing, the whole MOhammedsn sys
] TEN would be overthrown in few
j wears. With a similar permission
the Hindoo superstition would shar
4 the same tate.
o We have yet some districts o
r fcountry where the costume, cabins
I and in some measure the household
2. furniture of their ancestors, ar
n still in use. The people Of thes'
3, districts are far behind their neigh
It bors in every valuable endowmen
ir ofhuman nature. Among them tn
IT virtues of chastity, temperance, an
fe industry, bear no great value, an
schools and places Of worship ar
II but little regarded. In genera
IS every one "does what is right
Of his own eyes"
r In short, why have we so 500
g. forgotten our forefathers, and ever,
70 thing belonging to our formerstat'
20 The reason is, everything belonl
Of ing to our former state has vanisI
of ed from our view, and We meet wit
20 nothing in remembrance of then
m The recent date of the settlement
C. our country is no longer subje'
OF of reflection. It's immense improV
'ir mentc present to the imaginatic
rs the results OF the labors OF sever
centuries, instead Of the work OF
H. few years and we do not often TAX
of the trouble to correct the false IN
y, preston.
IS, The introduction of the mechan
er arts has certainly contributed NJ
nd q little to the morals and scientif
te Improvement of the country.
ly The carpenter, the joiner an
81. mason, have displaced tho rud
ty unsightly and uncomfortable cabi'
n. OF our forefathers, by comfortably
be and In many instances elegaI
IN mansions of stone, brick, hewn al
il. savn timbers,