The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-12
WOMEN AS SEDUCERS.
THE WORDING OF AN OLD NEW JER-
sEY STATUTE,
Which Attaches Pains and Penalties to
Women Who Used Cosmetics. Washes.
Paints, Artificial Teeth, False Hair or
High-Heeled Shoes.

| From the London Telegraph.
1t is amatter of Just pride TO Euglishmen
that ono OF their compatriots should have
attained to the position OF al high authority
on the laws and political institutions Of tho
United States OF America. That position,
however, may perhaps be found to entail
responsibilities which Mr.. Bryce can never
have contemplated in the composition of
his monumental work. We sincerely
trust that he will not be called upon by an
army OF American correspondents Of, let
us say, the more ornamental sex, to de-
termino what is the amount of legal valid
ity inherent in an old colonial statute still
unrepealed, which has jus tbeen discovered
among the archives of tho State of New
Jersey. How delicate a question this
would be for tho accomplished jurist
to answer will appear even from
the most cursory glance at the en-
actment to which we refer II provides
and with directncss which puts
many Of our modern statutes TO shame
that "all women OF whatever age, profess
sion or rank, whether maids or widows,
who shall after this act impose upon, So
| duce or betray into matrimony any of his
| Majesty's subjects by virtue OF scents, cos
me!ics, washes, paints, artificial teeth,
false hair or high-hoeled shoes shall in-
cur the penalty now in force against witch
craft and like misdemcanors. We shall
not be far wrong, We think, in saying that
this statute speaks for itself; and we may,
perhaps, be Justified in adding that, II still
operative, il would bo worth while to
| publish IL in some popular form in New
Jersey, under tho heading OF Important
90 Ladies'" On the question OF lis con-
tinuing legal validity we pronounce no
opinion. 1t may be argued that "a witch
craft has ceased 10 be an ononse ut COM
con law, and as there arc no like mis-
domcanors" unless indeed, we 40 describe
the attempted witcheres aimed ut in this
very statutc-no punishment is prescribed
for the prohibited feminine practices. TO
this, however, II may be answered that no
punishment need be expressly described
inasmuch rs the penalties NOV In force
that is, at the date OF the act-rcmain still
| applicable; whence II would follow that
lady OF New Jersey might loo burned at
the stake upon due conviction of having
worn high-heelcd shoes. Perhaps II is
|
nowadays be enforced In ITS full rigor; but
] Il must be a comfort TO all of us 10 reflect
that this is not tho only or most conclusive
reason for anticipating no such painful in.
cidonL The oncnsc itself has become ex.
tinct. We survey the list OF forbidden
articles from scents down TO high-hecled
shoes and with tho possible exception OF
first and last we find none OF which the uso
| has not been forever discarded by every
member OF the female sex. Cosmetics,
washes, paints are unknown. The arts OF
the dentist and the perruquier are never
called into rcquisition in these days; and
we have no doubt at all-or, at any rate,
| we dare not express n doubt-that II now
| Hopkins tho WitchRndcr were directed TO
make pcrquisition OF wilchcrait in all tho
ladies' drcssing-rooms, not only In New
Jersey, but throughout tho whole
world-that IL, the whole civilized
world, for female sayagcs, to their
shame be II spoken, VIGOROUSLY get
themselves up"-ho would return empty
handed from his quest, and without n SIM
gle rougc-pot or powderpuii 10 bless him
self with.
Occasionally. Il Is true. wo como across
examples OF tendency on the part OF the
decorative sex to relapse into It's old weak
1
instance, IL has been recently found neccs-
sary by the Bishop Of Rochester TO issue a
protest against the "ovcrdrczsing" OF girls
who oner themselves for confirmation.
"Mock pearls in the humber class" he
SAYS, "and whito satin shoes in the
higher" should be gently but firmly dis
Outraged. Nothing no goes on 30 add.
would distress mo more than 10 have 10
send n candidate back for snowy or taw-
| dry apparel; but for examples sake Il may
be necessary for mo 10 do It," Perhaps,
| II the exccsscs in attire do not 20 beyond
those described by the Bishop, II might
be as well II he were 10 extend 10 them
| his fatherly Indulgence Tho Hebrew
| prophet, after all, had longer Indictment
| 10 bring against the wardfobcs and toilet
tables OF the daughters Of Zion, walk.
ing and mincing as they 60" lie had
10 threaten them with tho taking
away OF 'the bravery Of their tink.
ling ornaments about their feet, and their
canls, and their round tires like the moon,
the chains, and the bracelets, aud the
mufllcrs, tile bonnrts, aud tho ornaments
OF the logs. and the hcadbands and the
tablets, aud tho earrings, tho rings and
nose Jewels. tho changcablc suits OF mp.
parcl, and the manilcs, aud the wimplea
aud tho crispingpins, the glasses, and the
fine linen, and the hoods and the wells"
What would the right reverend prclato
have said a. that for an outttl II Is un.
doubleday monslrOus, aud We can only 10.
joice that In point Of simplicity the ladies
OF the present day have rs much the nd.
vantage Of tho daughters Of ZION ~ Oi the
witches Of New jersey Their state Is the
more gracious, because no one certainly
can say that they have run 20 the other
extreme aud that they err on the side Of
excessive austorty In tho matter Of attire.
II has been their triumph, In short, 10
have practiccd the art Of self.adornment
without provoking reprc@iye legislation,
pulpit annthomas, or a general insuncc.
ton Of husbands Neither the Hebrew
nor the Roman ladies' succeeded in hitting
on the golden mean with 20 nice an
exactiiudc; for tho former, as We have
seen, subjected themselves to prophetic
Pronunciation, while tho latter brought
down upon themselves tho enactment Of a
sumpiuary law, which wns, perhaps, the
scycrcst blow sustained 10y the millinery
Industry In the whole course Of recorded
history. The disuso Of sumptuary legsla-
ton ~ applied 90 the female sex has been
attributed, Il Is true, by some cynics 70 the
tafdy recognition Of tho impossibili1g Of
setting bounds 10 womon's Ingenuity In
discovering new objects Of expenditure,
but tho question u Just one Of those on
| which cynicism-a form Of philosophy
which has never stood high In feminine
fayor-is least entitled 10 a hearing. And
Il IA only common Justice 10 remember