Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-03-18
DIR. TALMAGE ON DRESS.

age between this and the time OF Louis
XVI Of France. and Henry VIII. of
England, and will tell you the type of
morals or immorals of that age or that
year. No exception 10 it. Modest ap-
parel means righteous people. Im-
modest apparel always means contain
mated and deprayed society. It is not
only such boldness that is TO be repre-
hended, but extravaganza of costume.
This latter is the cause of fraud unlim.
liable and CHASTITY. 1t was an effort to
support too expensive establishments
that sent prominent business men to
the watering OF stocks, and life inSur-
ance presidents to perjured statements
about their assets and some of them TO
the penitentiary, and has completely
upset our American finances. But
why should go to othese famous default
ings to show what men will do in order
to keep up great home style and expen-
sive wardrobe, when you and | know
scores Of men who are put to their wits
end and are lashed January to Decem-
ber in the attempt? +? Oar Washington
politicians may theorize until the .expi-
ration Of their terms Of office as to the
best way of improving our monetary
condition In this country. 1t will be OF
no use, and things will be no better un-
til we learn to put on our heads and
backs and rect and hands no more than
we can pay for. There are clerks in
stores and banks ON limited salaries,
who in the vain attempt. to keep the
wardrobe of their family as snowy as
other folks ward robes, are dying OF
muffs, diamonds, camel's-hair shawls,
and high hats, and they :haye nothing
left except what they give to cigars
and wine suppers, and they die before
their time, and they will expect us min
listers to preach about them as though
they were the victims of early piety;
and after hlgh-class funeral. with sill
YER handles at the side OF their coffins
of extraordinary brightness, it will be
ed out Of his legitimate expenses Do
not send to me to preach the funera
sermon of man who dies like that. /
will blurt out tine whole truth aud tell
that he was strangled to death by his
wife's ribbons You are not surprised
to find that the putting up of one pub.
lie building in New York costs millions
of dollars more than it ought to have
cost, when you find that the man who
gave out the contract paid more than
SIS 900 for his daughters wedding dresss
Cashmeres of 81 900 each have not been
rare on Broadway. 1t is estimated
that there are 900 women in these two
cities who have expended on their per-
sonal array $1,000 year.
THE TRAGEDY OF HUMAN CLOTHES.
"What are the men to do in order to
keep up such home wardrobes ? Stea ].
That is the only respectable thing they
can dol During the last fifteens yea rs
there have been innumerable fne busi-
ness men shipwrecked on the wardrobe.
The temptation comes in this way /: A
man thinks more OF his family than all
the world outside. and if they spend the
evening i'm describing to him the super
ior wardrobe of the family across the
street that they cannot bear the sight
OF, the man is thrown upon his gallan-
try and his pride of family, and with
out translating his feelings into plain
language he goes into extortion and is
suing of false stock and skillful pen
manship in writing somebody else's
name at the foot of a promissory note,
and they all 60 down together--the hus-
hand to the prison, the wife to the sew
ing machine, the children to be taken
care of by those who were called poor
relations. Oh, for some new Shakes
peare to arise and write the tragedy OF
human clothes
Act the First of the Tragedy-A
plain but beautiful home. Enter the
newly married pair. Enter simplicity
of manner and behayior. Enter as
much happiness as is eyer found in one
home.
"Act the Second-Discontent with
the humble home. Enter envy. En-
ter jealously. Enter desire of display.
Act the third-Enlargement of ex-
penses. Enter the queenly dressmak-
ers. Enter the French milliners.
Act the Fourth-The tip top Of So
ciety. Enter princes and princesses of
New York life. Enter magnificent
plate and equipage. Enter everything
splendid.
"Act the Fifth and Last. Winding
up the Scene-Enter the assignee. En-
ter the sheriff. Enter the creditors.
Enter humiliation. Enter the wrath
of God. Enter the contempt of society.
Enter death. Now let the silk curtain
drop on the stage. The farce is ended
and the lights are out.
'Will you forgive me if l say in ter
sest shape possible that someof the men
in this country have to forge and to
perjure and to swindle to pay for their
wives dresses !? will say it whether
you forgive me or not"