The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1888-02-02


the inspired writer, as Nhemeatly as our
selves, raprehended the effenlinate man
and the masculine woman: 'sThe woman
shall not wear that which pertainetb
unto man, neither shall man put on
woman's garment, for all that do so
are abomination unto the Lord thy God. .
Ny text also sanctions fashion. In
deed, it sets fasliion There is great
deal of senseless cant on the subject of
fashion. A woman or man who does not
regard it is unfit for good neighborhood.
The only question is, what is right fash
ion and what is wrong fashion? Before
/ stop / want to show you that fashion
has been one of the most potent of re-
formers and one of the vilest of usurpers.
Sometimes it has been an angel from
heaven, and at others it has been the
mother of denominations. As the world
grows better there will be as much fash
ion as now, but it will be a righteous
fashion. In the future life white robes
always have been and always will be in
the fashion.
There is great outcry against this
submission to social custom, as though
any consultation of the tastes and feel
ings of others were deplorable; but with
out it the world would have neither law,
order, civilization, nor common decency.
There has been canonization of blunt
ness. There are men and women who
boast that they can tell you all they know
and hear about you, especially If it be
unpleasant. Some have mistaken rough
behavior for franlzness, when the two
qualities do not belong to the same
family. You have no right with your
eccentricities to crash in upon the SEN
sitiveness of others. There is no virtue
in walking with hoofs over fine carpets.
The most jagged rock is covered with
blossoming moss. The storm that comes
jarring down in thunder strews rainbow
colors upon the sky and silvery drops on
orchard and meadow.
There are men who pride themselves
on their capacity to ''stick" Others They
say: Il have brought him down; didn't
I make him squirm!" Others pride
themselves on their outlandish apparel.
They boast Of being out of the fashion.
They wear queer hat. They ride in an
odd carriage. By dint of perpetual ap-
plication they would persuade the world
that they are perfectly Indifferent to
public opinion. They are more proud OF
being tout of fashion" than others are
of being in. They are utterly and uni
yersally disagreeable. Their rough cor
ners have never been worn off. They
prefer hedgehog to lamb.
The accomplishments of life are in no
wise productive of effenlinacy or ener-
vation. Good manners and respect for
the tastes of others are indispensable.
The Good Book speaks favorably of those
who are peculiar" people; but that
does not sanction the behavior OF queer
people. There is no excuse, under any
circumstances, for not being and acting
the lady or gentleman, Rudeness is sin.
We have no words too ardent to express
our admiration for the refinements of
society. There is no law, moral Or di-
vine, to forbid elegance of demeanor, or
ornaments of gold, or gems for the per-
son, artistic display in the dwelling,
gracefulness of gait and bearing, polite
saiutation or honest estcompliments; and he
who is shocked or offended by these had
better, like the old Scytilians, wear tiger
skins and take one wild leap back into
midnight barbarism. AS Christianity
advances there will be better apparel,
higher styles of architecture, more ex-
quisite adornments, sweeter music,
grander pictures, more correct behavior
and more thorough ladies and gentle
men.
But there is another story 70 be told.
Wrong fashion is to be charged with
many of the worst evils of society, and
its path has often been strewn with the
bodies of the slain, 1t has often set up
/ czI
| judged. Our common sense, as well as
all the divine intimations on the subject,
teach lis that people ought to be esteemed
according to their individual and moral
attainments. The man who has the
most nobility of soul should be first, and
he who has the least of such qualities
should stand last. No crest, or shield, or
escutcheon can indicate ones moral peer
age. Titles of Duke, Lord, Esquire, Earl,
discount or Patrician ought not
! to raise one into the first rank.
Some of the meanest men ] lave
ever known had at the end of their name
d. D., LID. and +. r. S. Truth, honor,
charity, heroism, self sacrifice should win
highest favor, but inordinate fashion
says: Count not a woman's virtues:
count her adornments." 'Look not at
the contour of the head, but see the way
she combs her hair 'Ask not what
noble deeds have been accomplished by
that mans hand; but is it white and
soft2" Ask not what good sense is in
her conversation, but I'm what was she
dressed2" Ask not whether there was
hospitality and cheerfulness in the house,
but Sin what style do they live?'
AS a consequence, some of the most
ignorant and vicious men are at the top,
and some of the most virtuous and intel
ligent at the bottom. During the last
war we suddenly saw men hurled up into
the highest social positions. Had they
suddenly reformed from evil habits, OF
graduated in science, or achieved some
good work for society? No, they simply
had obtained government contract.
This accounts for the utter chagrin
which people feel at the treatment they
receive when they lose their property,
Hold up your head AMID financial disas-
ter like Christianl Fifty thousand sub
tracted from a good man leaves how
much? Honor, truth, faith in God, tri
umphant hope, and a kingdom of inef-
fable glory, over which he is to reign fol
ever and ever.
If the owner of millions should Jose G
penny out of his pocket would he si
down on curbstone and cry? And shall
man possessed of everlasting fortunes
wear himself out with grief because ht
has lost worldly treasures2 You hav,
only lost that in which hundreds o
wretched misers surpass you, and yor
have saved that which the Caesars anC
the Pharaohs and the Alexanders coulC
never afford.
And yet society thinks differently, ana
, you see the most intimate friendship
, broken up as the consequences of finan
cial embarrassments. You say to SOM
ole: 'sHow is your friendP' The MAJ
, looks bewildered and says; Il do no
J know" You reply: "Why, you use,
to be intimate "Well," says the man
''our friendship has been dropped. Th
; ;laan has failed"
I'll % = Iiaas %