A Little Sermon to Young Women.
THERE is probably no subject which so much engages the thoughts of young women, even of Christian young women, as that of dress. If there is wealth in the family there are continually new clothes to be selected. If there is a scanty allowance, then so much turning and returning are necessary, that the planning and the manual labor required to make a tasteful wardrobe keep the matter constantly in mind. This is wrong; and yet, as society is now constituted, it is impossible to avoid considerable care on this subject. All that we can do is to make as little as possible of this concern. The first rule for both men and women to observe in arraying themselves is, as goes without saying, neatness. The slightest sign of uncleanliness about the person, untidy hair, hanging dress-braid, missing buttons, seams pinned together—these are insulting to those in whose company they are displayed. Elaborate and expensive materials and trimmings should be sparingly used for young girls. Youth is in itself so much of an ornament, that the addition of rich dress is like "gilding refined gold," or "painting the lily." The more simple and unobtrusive a young girl's dress, the more becoming it is likely to be. It would seem very absurd to warn young men against the dangers of tight dressing, either of their bodies or extremities. No man worthy of the name would endure the slightest compression from his clothes. Yet young women not only render themselves uncomfortable by snug, if not tight, dressing of their bodies, feet, hands, and arms, but harm their health and usefulness immeasurably by so doing. If possible, some pretty garment should be contrived for wear when at work so that the muscles and blood-vessels need suffer as little compression as possible. Neuralgia, dyspepsia, pneumonia, consumption, and all kinds of weaknesses, especially those due to defective circulation, are often traceable to close dressing. Other minor evils frequently follow in their train—such as a bad complexion, pale lips, a red nose, falling hair, and decayed teeth. Especially must any one who desires a quick and vigorous intellect take care to dress very loosely. The plain and almost ugly garb of men requires comparatively little thought from them, and is well adapted to all practical purposes. It is necessary for women to use a great deal of thought in order to make their own costume either healthful or becoming. Yet, in the good providence of God, the right settlement of this matter in the mind of each individual woman is undoubtedly of more consequence to the future development of our race than many of the great political questions now under discussion, important as the latter surely are.—Good Cheer.