Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1886-06-19
ETHICS OF DRESS.
The Connection That Exists Between
Morality and Clothes.

Morality and Clothes.
A biographer of Haydn states that
when he sat down to the composition
of any Of his great musical works he
first arrayed himself in the most bril-
liant and elegant apparel at his COM
mand; and in like manner Skobeleff-
one of the most brilliant and SUI: ccssful
generals of modern times-bcfore going
into battle always donned a splendid
uniform of spotless white. No royal
bird ever plumed its feathers with more
pride and care. These eminent IN
stances, and many more of similar ma
ture might be quoted. toprove that the
self-contidence of mankind depends, in
a great degree. upon the tailor and the
dressmaker. Did these bui know ihelr
power the human race would be as pup
pets in their hands.
1t is quit. oby Gus TO the most super
fic,al observer that there Is an estab.
lished relat ON between certain mental
or moral characteristics and certain
styles or peculiarities of dress; bnt it be-
comes very difficult although interest
ing question to determine which is cause
and which eff ct. Does the particular
trait of character. by some process oil
natural selection. seek to expires:
itself in corresponding style o.
dress? or does the habit of the
man, accidentally adopted. per
haps, superinducc its kindred shade o.
character. However this may be. II
cannot be doubted that in most in
stances the one is ut least the reflex o.
the other. 1t is not wholly for the de
location of small boys and nursery
maids that the soldier is arrayed in al
the panoply of war. Nor is it mere
accident that from time imnemoria
sack cloth (Of one description or an
other) has been the common garb o
the penitent. The shallow vanity. in
sincerity. and pitiful moral weakness o
the shabby genteel could not be eN
pressed more plainly than they are IN
the threadbare finery BY which they at
tempt to palm themselves off for some
thing which they are not. These onl.
excite contempt, whereas al true mel
are glad to make obeisance to the hon
| est darn of what DIR. johnson calle'
"premedtated poverty A sturd
| beggar in his rags may command re
| spect and even excite rcmorSe when, II
manly resentment of some slight, h
threatens. like Old Ochiltree, to beg o
us no more. 1t is, again. a physiolog
| ical fact that there is n close relation
between the particular style of a cler
| gyman's waistcOat and his theological
| views. Who has ever seen an uphOide
of the apostolic succession in a low-cu
vest? Such radical devices are adopt
ed only by the exponent of lower o
broader theology. Indeed, rs tn
opinions of the latter become lowe
and broader. Their effect upon the out
ward man advances jGri passn, an
Is perceived even u the extremitie.
finally result no. IN some extrem
cases. in the homogeneous combination
of clerical choker with neither gal
monts of intense secularty.
There is al an orderly and it woul
seem inevitable correspJ nden be
tween the dress of the placid and Sc
contained Quaker and those peculis
traits. which. it is generally assumed
dist: nguish HIM +. ON the more flash
and iurbu 'ent portion of mankind
This is still more appart mt and attrac
i've i'm the sedate patterns and subdue
cOlors as of soft twilight affected b
the gentle Quakeress. With drOOpin
lid and glance half coy, half furtiv,
she retreats into III: deep recesses {
her poke bonnet rs into sanctuar,
Did mortal man ever presume to mai
love to such? BY what profane stcI
is she led up to the matrimonial altar
Can it be possible that even Quake
ess will indulge in thos, fr.volties
which ordinary mOrtals are woOed ar
won? or is it indeed true that h,
only communicat on upon such occ
sions is verify. yea. yea-or sometime
perchance. nay, nay?
The author of "A Trip Throug
Nasal Land" gives it rs result of h
observation upon the people of centr
Africa that there is no necessary CO
nection between morality and clothe
for he found that several tribes, whi'
had entirely discarded, or, rather, new
had assumed, the latter were in cha
acter and habits vastly superior to son
neighboring tribes which, in the exte
of their wardrobe, had more nearly a
preached the standard of civilizstio
From this conclusion of the Afr:c;
traveller let us hope that the speculate
mind NAV derive some solace and sol
, ton for the amazement and bewilde
ment into which it is often thrown
toilets of fashionable Europe and Anne
ica-BOstou transcript.