[Editorial Note: This semi-comical attack upon fashion typifies the male
view of women's dress as extravagant, impractical, and foolish. The Maine
Law the anonymous author refers to banned the sale of alcoholic beverages
in that state. The author here argues that "Muslin Palaces," i.e.,
shops where fashionable goods were for sale, were every bit as menacing
to society as "gin palaces."]
"Important to Husbands," Harper's New Monthly Magazine,
vol 10 (May 1855), pp. 769-771.
P. 769: I am going to break ground in a totally new question, but with
wonder that it has been reserved to me to do so. . . .I ask myself, Why
should be endeavor to put down only one traffic of a seductive and mischievous
kind? There is the Gin Palace, with its baleful attractions, at one corner;
but here is a Muslin Palace, with equally bewraying [sic] though not so
deadly attractions, at another. Why should the latter be left to beguile
the wits of the ladies, while Legislative Acts [the Maine Law] seek to save
the somewhat poorer, but not less heedless, victims of the opposite establishment?
Cover sheet for "Father Will Settle the Bill,"
a popular comic song of the mid-century.
If I am wrong, may all concerned
forgive me; but I can not help thinking that the Muslin Palace carries guilt
on the very face of it. Given the weak female heart as the subject of experiment,
and behold how well adapted is the appartus brought to bear upon it! The
lofty entrance, with plate-glass sides and flanking windows, displaying
colored nothings of all sorts of inconceivable forms, and incomprehensible
purposes--the long retiring vista of counters and tables, attended, not
by women, who are perfectly fit for the silly business, but by Young Men--the
dazzling mirrors inviting the victims to self-worshipping trials of shawls
and scarfs--the soft, winning manners, and insinuating talk of the shopmen,
addressed to every whim of taste or tastelessness which they may detect
. . . . Were the question only that women should have decent attire, less
Circean spells would serve. The object manifestly is to tempt the poor sex
into the purchase of habiliments beyond what they need; and hence the magnificence
of the system and all its insnaring arrangements. The Muslin Palace betrays
its character by being a Palace.
The husbands should look to it, engage a Mr. Gough [John Gough, a noted
temperance lecturer], get up an Alliance, and establish an organ [publication]
to make themselves heard by. It is very much their concern, both as its
affects the solidity of character of their wives and daughters, and their
own pockets. . . .There were witchcrafts and philters [love potions] long
ago for entangling the hearts of the fair; and some sages bore us now and
then with their fears for the effect of novel-reading upon the female imagination.
But charms, philters, chloroform, and ideal Lord Henries [heroes in popular
novels], [P. 770] take on, in my regard, an aspect of perfect innocence,
in comparison with the fascinations of those rainbow-like windows into which
we see our women gaze day by day, and wish and wish the soul away.
. . . .
We protect minors from premature marriage, and punish a good many eccentricities
of the affections which don't much trouble us. Why should we not be allowed
to protect the gentle partners of our bosoms from any particular danger
or corrupting agency which we see besetting them? No, no . . . nothing but
a Maine Law will do.
Is such a law workable? Obviously ten times more so than a Maine Liquor
Law; for while the use of alcohol up to a certain point can be concealed,
dress will not exist unless of being exhibited, and there can, therefore,
be no difficulty in laying our fingers on the corpus delicti. A lady
seen proceeding along the street in an immoderate style of dressing, can
be arrested as contraband, and reduced to a rationality of exterior, scream
as she may. . . .We shall have a law for introducing conciseness into the
female figure, and making them convenient to themselves, even against their
will. We need not fear much about their will, however, for it is odds that
they would be rather glad of a law, however tyrannical, which would save
them from the greater tyranny now existing. We must remember that the unfortunate
creatures do not overdress themselves from a love of dress, but only because
they must follow the fashion. Make Mrs. Black aware that Mrs. Brown, Mrs.
White, and Mrs. Green are all henceforth to appear in neat black silk dresses
with plain frills, and Mrs. Black will take to the black silk and plain
frill with a peaceful and contented mind.
If I am wrong, may all concerned
forgive me; but I can not help thinking that the Muslin Palace carries guilt
on the very face of it. Given the weak female heart as the subject of experiment,
and behold how well adapted is the appartus brought to bear upon it! The
lofty entrance, with plate-glass sides and flanking windows, displaying
colored nothings of all sorts of inconceivable forms, and incomprehensible
purposes--the long retiring vista of counters and tables, attended, not
by women, who are perfectly fit for the silly business, but by Young Men--the
dazzling mirrors inviting the victims to self-worshipping trials of shawls
and scarfs--the soft, winning manners, and insinuating talk of the shopmen,
addressed to every whim of taste or tastelessness which they may detect
. . . . Were the question only that women should have decent attire, less
Circean spells would serve. The object manifestly is to tempt the poor sex
into the purchase of habiliments beyond what they need; and hence the magnificence
of the system and all its insnaring arrangements. The Muslin Palace betrays
its character by being a Palace.