The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-10

seems to tell Fashion herself what she is
trying to formulate, yet which Genius
alone can adequately interpret.
attract.
It seems aggressive, as If its owner said:
1 DO not bother to be intellectual or hu-
name or religious or companionable. I
am content to dazzle with my clothing
ana subJugate with garments that the
Queen OF Sheba might have coveted I
90 not care for your opinions or your So
clety, and, least of all, for your sorrows
OF necessities. have no ideas about any
thlng put clothes; no fine sentiment in re-
gard to duty or progress. My mission
IS TO dress, and any attempt to divert
me from being wholly absorbed in nv
clotnlhg 1 resent as an unWarranted i'm
perunence. The woman who marries SUI
peranhated vice for his money. as n uaces
sary means to the desired end. clothes.
EXHIBITS common sense good Judgment
ana other desirable qualities; for what
can NE De worth to one who has not
comprised the utmost possibility of
clothes? philanthropy! What is it but a
scheme to take away for bread what
might be put into yet richer and more
aggressive clothes? Religionl 1t will do
as an occasion to exhibit clothes but IL
must not interfere, by. its demands with
the main object of living, which. after
all, is purple and fine linen and their
concomitants."
Between these two extremes Of utter
absorption in clothes and inconseouent
neglect OF ordinary opportunities to dress
neatly and becomtngly there are a thous-
and graduations of character and ex-
preston.
There are women who dress ten Years
older than they are, and thereby confess a
Durden-bearing that has made them so
completely efface their own preferences
tnat they have become prematurely old
There are other women who dress fen
years younger than they look and there
by express vanity and selfshness OF
character that no splendor of attire can
ever render beautiful
Again, there are those who MANAGE. n
express In their clothing a daintiness re-
freshing as the breath of a rose. Their
clothing is not ultra-fashionable, but If
~ appropriate and sufficiently grateful to
the eye to seem always to be saying pleas
ant things. Its language is the exact re-
verse or that room mentioned by a French
man where the carpet and curtains swore
at each other" The ideal clothes express
InooestyS without the melancholy of self
despair. They suggest hope and courage
without aggressive insolence of utter recl(
lessness. The colors harmonize so that
there is no discord.
1t is however, quite as dif1cuIt 70 Nv
press ideal aspirations in clothes as n is
IN poems, or sermons, or ordinary CONVEX
saton. The attempt to be esthetic NAV
enc IN being grotesque. The step from the
sublime to the ridiculous is easily and Of
ten unconsciously taken.
IS IL not Emerson who says MEN of
genius think they do well if they get of
without the ridicule of the Ignorant?
IN IKE manner people of refinement are
satisfied If they can escape any esneciaI
notice Of their clothing. Their aspirafion
IS to offer thought or sentiment maj
shall make the lesser glory of clothes for
gotten in the greater glory of mental gifts
and graces. eiA 10
Excessive ornament presupposes. mental
and moral deficiency. 1t is the SIGN mar
uaI of mental poverty It is indicotiva Of
the Darbarfc instinct that prefers heads
ana war paint to the devices of eiviiiza :
ton Mtllionaires and successful business
men usually dress plainly 1t is reser,e5
Tor gamblers and confidence operator 70
dress with conspicuous finery. ana VET
appearances are deceitful." The mar
who wears a diamond may be rich a1d
the woman whose hands are covered with
snowy rings may be the moralIv corraot
daughter of ignorant parents. or tba re-
spectacle wife of commonplace medi-
Nevertheless, so unmistakabe &c +ho
language of clothes that a close ohsar, ~
can spell out the character. circumsf 49, 81
and even habits of people simply and on,
Dy the confessions Of their clothes i1