The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-30
DR.. Talmage to Women Of America
1.-THE Woman Shall Not Wear That
Which Pertaineth Unto Man.
Wrong Fashion Makes People Un-
natural, Untrue and Superficial.
Productive of Disease, Mental Imbi-
cility and Spiritual whitening.
Worse Than All, 1t Extirpates Every
Moral Sentimental Wardrobe
Rock Upon Which Manga
Soul Is Riven.

BRooKLYN, n. Y, Jan. 29.-The Rev. T.
Dewitt Talmagc, d. d., preachedto in
the Brooklyn Tabernacle the fourth OF the
series OF Sermons to the Women OF Amer
lea, with Important Hints to Men" The
subject of the sermon was: Dominion OF
Fashion" and the text was from Deute-
ronomy xxi. 3: "rhe woman shall not wear
that which pertainoth unto Il man, neither
shall man put on woman's garment;
for all that do so are abominaiion unto the
Lord thy God" DIR. Talmagc said:
In this, the fourth sermon OF the series
OF sermons, wish those who hear me to
bear in mind that take into considera-
ton not only those whom have before me
on Sabbath days, but the wider audience
opened through the printing press, and
while some things may not be particularly
appropriate for one locality, they are APP
propriate for many other localities. And
here will tell secret that have never
before told in public. About twenty years
ago began to pray that God would open
TO me the opportunity approaching through
the sccularnewspapcr press. The religious
papers in which my sermons had been
published chiefly went TO positively relg-
ious families. So ! asked God for the
wider field In which to proclaim the great
truths oi religion and good morals. In a
strange way the answer came. And the
syndicatcs having charge of'these matters
inform me that every week there are now
1860, GOO copies Of my discourses publish
ed in this country, and about 10000 900 in
other lands, whether English-spcaking
countries or by translation in many foreign
tongues want people TO understand that
il j. all in answer TO prayer to God that
this opportunity has come, and pray for
grace 10 occupy the field. 1t is not there
iorr, prcsumptuous when give wide scope
90 these liscourses undaddress them TO the
women OF America, with important hints
To men.
God thought womaniy attire Of enough
importance 10 have IL discussed In the
Bible. Paul the apostle, by no means a
scntimcntalst, and accustomed TO dwell
on the great themes Of God and the rcsur.
rcction, writes about the arrangement Of
Nonan's hair and the style of her jewclry,
aud in my text Moses, his ear yet filled
with the thunder Of Mount Sinai. declares
that Momanly attirc must be in marked
contrast with masculine nitirc, and infmc.
ton Of that law eXcitCs the indignation Of
high heaven. Just Ia proportion as the
morals Of n country Or an age arr de-
pressed IL that law dclicd. Show me the
fashion plates Of any century from the
time Of the delugc 20 this, and ! will tell
ysu the exact state Of public morals.
Bloomcrism in this country years ago
seemed about 10 break down this divine
law, but there was enough Of good In
American society a. beat back the indie.
ccncy. Yet ever and anon We have Inn
ported from France, or perhaps invented
On this side the sea, q style that proposes
as far as possible to make women dress
like men, and thousands Of young women
catch the mode, until some one goes H..
tie too far In imitation Of masculinity, and
the whole custom, by the good sense Of
American womanhood, II oblitcraicd.
The costumes of the countries arr dif.
icpnt, and in the same country NAV
change, but there Is divinely ordered
dissimilarity which must bc forever oh.
served. ANY divergence from this II al.
ministatiyc 81 vice, and runs against the
keen thrust of the text, which SAYS: "Thc
woman shall not wear that which pertain.
eth unto man; neither shall a man put
ON n woman's garment, for all that do VI
ac abominaiion unto the Lord thy God.
Many years ago French authopS,
signing horscli George Sand, by her COT,
rupt but brilliant writing, dcpriycd homes
and libraricsinnumenb and wasa literary
grandmother Of NIL the present French aud
American authors who have written thing,
~ much wouc that they have made hcl
putruiaction quito prcscntable. That
French author,ss put on masculine attire,
She WIS consistent. Her writings and hei
behavior were perfectly accorlant
NV text, by implication, ahhon mnscu
line women and womanly men. What q
sickcning thing II IL 90 sec a man copying
the speech, the walk, the manner oi 4
woman. The trouble IL that they do mol
initiate a sensible woman. but some iemal,
imlccilo. Aud they shipper. and they "
with mincing step, and lisp, and scream n
nothing, and take ON q languishing looJ
and hang their hair, and are the nausca
ton Of honest folksoi both sexes Oman
h. man! Iou belong 10 quite n respect
able sex. Tho starting figure Of the hu
man nice was man. DO not try 10 eros
over anu ~ become hybrid, neither ON,
nor the other, but failure, halfway b.
tween.
Alike repugnant are masculine women
They copy mans stalking gait and 81
down the sipct with the stride ot walk
ing.bcam. They wish they could smok,
cigarettes, and some OF them DO The,
talk boisicrously and try 10 sing bass
They 10 not laugh, they roar They can
not quite manage the bfuad profanity o
the srx they rival, but their conversation
" often a hall.sNear and II they said &c
1ord' In earnest prayer NJ often ~ tbel
aay Il Ia lighlncss they vouldbc high up IL
saintho0l Withal, thorc u an assume,
Tugo-iiy 81 apparel, and they wear man
hat, only changed by being in two o
thrre places smashed ~ nnd lca,
canary rlinging Ia the general wnc~, an,
a man. coat tucked IN here AMI thrc NC
corilng io M unaccountablu csihcii,r. {
woman. slay q woman! You also hclonI
to WY respectable sex. Tie scconl
figure oi the human moc was q woman an'
nomriimos = second edition oi a volume Y
the first edition improved aud coircicd
Do not try 10 cross over. II yor DO yol
will be- a inilnrc ~ woman AMI only