The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-08-01
They
The Wonderful Power OF Very Mys-
terlous Tyranny.
THE Congregationalist.l

1t would, fancy, puzzle the wisest philos-
opher to define precisely who ''they" are
yet so palpably do they" exist, and so pow
erful and well recognized a social force are
"they'' in all civilized countries that the
French have actually separate pronoun to
represent this something or somebody, or
indescribable entity, whose existence we ali
recognize so perfectly and which governs
and controls us completely in many depart
ments Of life.
If you ask a Frenchman to give you a syn
onym or equivalent for the pronoun "on,"
or even paraphrase that shall describe, In
no matter how many words, the person or
class Of persons represented by this mystic
rious little monOsyllable, he will shrug his
shoulders, look disturbed. make several
abortive attempts at an explanation, and
then ti4l give up the undertaking, by saying:
don't know" The fact is, "on'' refuses to
maferialize. even in language. An English
man may perhaps suggest as an equivalent
mrs. Grundy." But he is not right. MRS.
Grundy" is worldly, ridiculous old person,
at whom we may smile, and at whose de-
crees W.. may snap our fingers; ION" Is
power before whom all must bow.
What this power is, whence its derivation,
why we should be ruled by 1t, always has
been, and seems likely to remain, an occult
an extent that leads us to constant acts Of
folly, If not sin; TO the imperiling of our
health, the sofling of our conscienees, the
trifiing with our spiritual welfare, the en-
dangering. Of our eternal intersts-no one,
fancy, will undertake TO deny. 1t Is ION"
who dictates TO us the manner in which we
shall live. when we shall eat, the wherewith-
all we shall be clothed. No matter what
question may arise, the phrase Is sure to fall
from some ones lips, "They" do so and so,
cQU n md 90
tied what "they" do. our course is as dis
tinctly marked out as If the wit and wisdom
OF the wisest had been applied to the prob
lem, How many women are there who want
a better reason for purchasing certain
are wearing so and so? Any act of rebellion
against the mandates of this omnipotent
they, should some daring spirit venture to
rebel, Is sure to bring a torrent Of remon-
STRANGE. DO you want to be odd?" won't
it seem stranger" '.It is such bad taste to
appear singular" Every one will be max.
ing remarks" These are the comments that
are sure to fall from the lips of those about
us.
1t might be supposed that power which
held such a widespread sway, that enforced
Its rule without material aids would at least
nave about 1t some such attributes as gener-
ally command respect in a government,
namely: stability, reason, common sense,
harmony, and a reasonable amount Of regard
for the best interests of the greatest number.
On the contrary, they" like Hamlet, are
forever commanding us ito put some antic
disposition on" and In no case are our COM
Tort, means, health, or mental and spirit
with the imperial mandate. What though
our slight American dwellings, con-
tracted as to space and packed to-
gether in masses, demand light, airy furni-
ture, and thin. transparent drapery, with
bright ornamentationl they have tray
eled abroad and, visiting the stately homes
OF England built centuries ago with tower
and bastion, wainscoated walls and null
lioned windows, have conceived fancy for
the fashions of Queen Anne's reign, and
should be. filed with dull carpets, heavy
hangings. bulky furniture and massive uten-
sils that scarcely leave us room to turn
around. Again, they" fit to the Orient,
and soon the ukase reads that our houses,
built to shelter us from the winters blast,
must be furnished and adorned with screens
and table and tiny teapots OF Japanese ware,
and straw mats, and hangings, and scarves
and bows and shawls of himsy silk, that af-
iord neither pleasure to the eye nor comfort
form, to be beautiful, must include a large
posterior hump. her waist must be com
pressed, her shoulders padded, and her hair
should cover her forehead to the eyebrows.
They lay down the law, and with one ac-
cord, we" acquiesce.
And the result. To what does this un-
thinking obedience to such unworthy rule
lead? What are the results of this weak
submission to such contemplate tyranny?
do we not see some Of them In the fraud and
dishonesty in high PLACES, the defalcatons,
the dlshonsrable bankruptcies of men whose
families have lived under the rule of this
ruthless power? Can we not trace much of
the Ill health OF our women, the feebleness
OF our children, the awful statistics Of infant
mortality, to the rules for feminine toilet
they have laid down? What of our men
and boys lounging at clubs, playing in the
streets, because masculine boots and boyish
games do not accord with Japanese decora-
tions? The world shudders when the Hindu
mother filings her living child into the GAN
ges, sacrifice to the sanquinary deity she
worships: What do we do when we surren-
ger ger nealtn and strength, and deprive those
dependent upon us of home and h0me-like
influences, by adopting style of dress that |
destroys ourselves and our offspring physi- |
cally, and transforms our houses from COM
Portable dwellings to buildings for the har- |
boring Of bric-a-brac?
Day by day, and year by year, the women |
OF America are growing to be thoughtful, |
intelligent, influential race. Quick to per- |
ceiye, eager to pursue, and gifted with faith |
without strong effort being made sooner or |
later. toward their overthrow. Surely they |
have no nearer duty than the disenthrallment |
OF their sex from this power which is doing |
so much mischief. Let the tyrant "they" be |
torn from the throne so unrighteously held, |
and suitable ruler installed. We are not |
blind followers Of the blind in any other de- |
partments OF the worlds work why should |
we De In social customs, dress, furniture, and |
many other things that have to do with our |
daily living?