THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DRESS.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 144, 10 April 1873, Page 2

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DRESS.

thf dress, as a mark of individual character, much lias been written ; and in a clever article nitho Quarterly, tlio writer wittily described bow coquetry or shyness, conceit or diffidence 1 , strength or weakness of will, and every other quality lovable or unlovable in woman, — nay, more, the very tone of lioi* religious opinions ware to b«s ,e repressed and deciphered in the colour, tho shape, and the quality of her apparel. It is not, however, 'with dress as significant of personal character that we are at present concerned, — dress, as the mirror of the character of nations and of periods, is the still loftier themo wo would suggest for the consideration of our readers. The remarkable connection which exists between the dress of a people and their leading idea* was noticed by Alison in. his French Revolution ; and lie mentions, as an example, the coarse, almost plebeian studs, such as bhepherd's tartan for gentlemen, and Scotch winseys for ladic>' dresses, which became faslnonablo during- thr patting of the fir form Bill, in deference, conscious ar unconscious, to tho Radical spirit of the tunes, llistor} , however, ail'orils even better illustrations or tins theory. Jfor instance : the picturesque but fancdul costume worn in the reign of Charles TL ot England, is it not symbolical of a class noli m tlje refinement, the wit, and the graces of manner vnieli flourish in the opulent leisure of aristocracies, but tainted deeply, at the same tune, with effeminacy, the moral enervation, and the spiritual torpor to which such leisure and such opulence are only too favourable ' And tho very different dress of a very diii'erent class, to which the same era gave birth ; m their close-cropped locks and sad-coloured garments, in then; stern abjuram£4*f anything like gaud or ornament, you may read aceticmin,. bigotry, superstition, if you will; but they are- equally thoevpressiou of an almost sublime cjntcnpt of the idols of appearance and wordly ghttor, and au austere »elf-diseiphne, which gave the Puritan character a rugged grandeur which all it-? laults cannot hide. Again, tho diess which was worn at and after the time of the Fivnch revolution, and winch excites our mingled horror and amusement in the portrait of our grandmothers, grotesque- as we now esteem that strange combination of short waist and skirt, is it not eminently characteristic of the- people who gave- it to Eii'vpc ? It wart the melancholy rosidt ot an unsuccessful attempt tocover the majestic simplicity of clisaic ages, and was singularly appropriate to a people who, amidst the anarchy which followed their great resolution, strove so ardently after the dignity of the .Roman and Greek republics, and succeeded in grasping of them nothing but tho bare letter. Hut neither ancient nor modern tunes can olFer any more remarkable dress than that which at thisvevy moment is ci cry whore before us. It is often said that this century must be a rein trkable one, when it excites tho wonder even ot t'lOoe who are living in it ; and it may equally well bo said of tlu» present stylo of dress, that it must bo woithy of note that when even those who are wearing it constantly express surprise at it. Yet, if there be an) truth in the tLeory we support, it is only natural that an a^e different m au^ way to any tlmt preceded it should produce a slyle of dre.»s equally original. Perhaps the most striking characteristic, anil the one winch provokes the most remark, is the wonderful degree of freedom it accords to liulividuil j tanle Of old, fastuon was proverbially accounted tie nust dt» t )otie of tnontirciis, tune defined s> narrowly the duties of her subject*, or more itringi'till^v euloixwl them; an I \cry narrow was the list of colour land forms, b_\ a rigid aduerem o to wli'veh alone one migiit hopn to bo nuinberod aoioii^st lier loyal subjects. — Et-Cilra

The Stem Timer s.ivs it U announced tlmfc within u few dins !i butcher 1 !) shop will bo opened in CJaiwra tor the silo ot horselle-th. The department of Justice anil Police iuvctaken ii\ci-y precaution to eusure notliing but tins best a, id healthiest meat being olfered to the public. The dau-'literni" of tho animals will take place imdor tho supveillance of it Totoi-mniy sur^on appomte.l bv tho Dupartmout, and oiilv Biich as loar his m irk will be nllowod to bo sold. IVre will bo t»o puces -jOe por lb foe tho choice piecos, and Uc for the rest. A w-ntlcmaH. who had been arguin? with an ignoramus until h,g patience was exhausted, saul he didn't wish him deal, bub In would bo glu ( l u> «,„ him ' know nuiv. ' 8 h t" ° ; Sd " Vi lU '* bOtU ' 1 ' to ■l Kir » uc pic hiuv than lo