The Hazel Green herald., 1888-03-02

L
ana the masculine woman. "Tho woman
snail not wear that which perta!neth unto
man, neither shall a mao put on n wo-
mans garment; for all that do so are
abomination unto the Lord thy God"
| My text also sanctions fashion. Indeed,
IL sets fashion. There is n great deal
OF senseloss cant on the subject OF fashion.
A woman or man who does not regard it Is
unht for good neighborhood. The only
| question is what is right fashion
ana what Is wrong fashion.
Before l stop I want TO show you that
fashion has been one OF the most potent OF
| reformers and one Of the vilest of usurpers
Sometimes II has been an angel from
Heaven, and ut others IL has been the
mother Of abomination. As the world
grows better there will be as much fash.
ion as now, but 1t will be righteous fash.
ion. In the future life white robes always
have been, and always will be, in the fash
ion.
Ihere is great outcry against this sub
mission to social custom, as though any
consultation OF the tnstcs and feelings OF
others were dcploruolc; but without it
the world would have neither law, order,
civilization, nor common deccncy. There
mas been canonization of bluntness
There are men and women who boast that
they can tell you all they know and hear
about you, especially IL IL be unpleasant
some have mistaken rough behavior for
trankness, when the two qualities do not
belong to the same family. You have no
right with your eccentricities to crash in
upon the sensitivencss 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:
~ have brought him down; didn't make
him squirm !" Others pride themselves on
their outlandish apparel They boast of
being out OF the fashion They wear a
queer hat. They ride in an odd carriage.
BY dint of perpetual application they
would persuade the world that they are
perfectly Indifferent to public opinion.
They are more proud of being "out Of
fashion" than others are OF being In.
They are utterly and universally sa-
greeable Their rough corners have never
been worn off. They prefer hedgehog to
q lamb.
The accomplishments OF life are in no
wise productive OF effeminacy or cnerva-
ton. 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 crcum-
stances, for not being and acting the lady
or gentleman. Rudeness Is sin. We
have no words too ardent to express
our admiration for the refnements
of society There is no law, moral
or Divine, TO forbid elegance of demeanor,
or ornaments of gold, or gems for the per-
son, artistic display in the dwelling, grace
fulnoss of gait and bearing, polite saluta-
tion or honest compliments; and he who is
shocked or offended by these had better,
like the old Scythians, 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 exquisite adorn-
ments, sweeter music, grander pictures,
moro correct behavior and more thorough
ladies and gentlemen.
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 false stand |
ard by which people arc TO be judged. Our |
common sense as woll as all tho Divine in
timations on the subject teach us that peo-
pie ought to be esteemed according TO |
thoir individual and moral attainments.
TIL 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 peerage Titles of Duke,
Lord Esquire, Earl, Viscount or Partrician
ought not to raise one into the first rank.
Some Of the meanest men have ever
known had at the end OF their name, ID,
LII. ID. and +, Il. =. Truth, honor, charity,
heroism, self-sacrihce should win
highest favor, but inordinate fashion
says: "Count not n womnn's virtues;
count her adornments." "Look not at the
contour Of her head, but see tho way she
combs her hair" "Ask not what noble
deeds have been accomplished by that
mans hand, but Is it white and softr"
Ask not what good sense is in her CONVEX
sation, but "ln what was she dressedp
Ask not whether thcre was hospitality
and cheerfulness in the house, but I'm
what style do they liveW As a conse-
luence, some OF the most ignorant and
vicious mon are at the top. and some OF
The most virtuous and intelligent at the
bottom, During the last war we suddenly
Jaw men hurled up into tho highest social
positions. Had they suddenly reformed
rom evil habits or graduated in scienca |
,r achieved some good work for society,"
No, they simply had obtained a Govern
nent contract