Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-03-05
Dress as an Aid 10 Happiness.
tCopyriEht, 1900. The Christian Herald.
(NeW York;.


(\eW York;.
Dress Is 4 very important stepping
Stone TO happiness. As all nature Is
tha garment of God. by which he Is
manifest To us: as the spirit is clothed
~ the body. ana the body in turn n
made beautiful or repulsive by the in
dwelling soul. 50 is dress related to
the body. For supposing man or
woman to have sufficient money ~
dress according to desire. then attire
becomes TO mind all that form IS to
substance. 1t is an index, symbolic
language: 80 much So. that lover
having seen His mistress in her various
costumes has the key to her character
If ne have wit enough To use it,
Taken as a national index q char
acter. dress Is the outward sign " 2
paopIp's peculiar genius. Their square
gracelesS. Scant clothes We're a thar-
acteristic of the Egyptians as i"elr
pvramids and obelisks- The loose, am
Die robes Of Asiatics are the natural
drapery of a luxurious temperament.
The elegance Of the ancient Greek
costume was tho raiment Of race -
whom form was more than color. me
homaliness of Saxon fashions, the rude
magnificence of Norman barons, the
picturesque garb of the Scotch clans
indeed. all national costumes, have
far deeper significance than vanity.
and some Daniel will yet arise who
shall judge the centuries by the way II
which they have dressed themselves.
More familiar to us. is the cosmical
change going on under our own eyes
Nh, bat "a CT n
quite as remarkable as any indicated
the rapid disappearance of all ma
tional and class costumes. The pretty.
suitable dresses that clothed the
peasantry of all countries are being
rapidly abandoned: and men and wo-
men grow more and more cosmopoli-
tan in matters of attire. In every
land. women now wear the same
gowns and bonnets. and every
respectable man on the planet is sup
posed to have Il tweed suit and a
Derby hat. This means mucn more
than fashion and vanity; il means the
grinding to powder in the democratic
mill. of all signs and symbols of
slavery. feudalsm. and mans in
equality. 1t means that men and Wo-
men everywhere are throwing off the
bondage of caste and asserting
through their coats and hats and
dresses that one human being is just
as good as another.
Now if dress has such pronounced
and wide national significance. its PER
sonaI power is even more remarkable.
We are all Influenced not only by what
others wear but by what we wear our
solves The business suit of good,
dark tweed. the white, fine linen. the
stiff collar and cuffs. give kind of
moral support, and inspire confidence.
A loose, careless dress conduceS to
loose. careless habit of mind. There
is a positive value in the different
suits that men wear. because they are
n positive help to the frame of mind
necessary for the occasion.
A suit that is associated with the
respect due to the sanctuary is best
for that purpose; there is sober
respectable dress that fits naturally
into business moods; another that
seems proper-beacuse usual-in
formal festivities; another of loose
easy comfort for domestic relaxation
and rest
A mans happiness, yea his success,
IN a lar greater measure than is SuS-
pected, depends upon such auxiliaries.
And it may be taken as an axiom.
that a man careless as to his dress
will be careless about every other mat
ter. And there is no excuse for such
an one at this day; for in spite of
criticism, the male dress OF our period
is sensible and healthy. and highly
conducive to comfort and happiness;
the soft hat, the easy coats, the light
flannel garments and soft ties per-
missible in hot weather, leave nothing