has been in the world's youth, in our time her costume represents the art.

"Weak and trivial as the subject is deemed, and frivolous as many phases of it undoubtedly are, yet fashion has some mysterious connection with thought and intellect, so close and intimate as to render it almost the type of progress.

"Wherever thought is free, there fashion works its changes, and carries out its constant war and its constant victory over habit and custom. Where thought is stagnant and tied down, there fashion finds no place. Where men think in the same groove for centuries, and the son inherits every opinion and prejudice of the father, there the costume of a country remains inexorably the same, and the children succeed to the paternal and the maternal wardrobe, without need to alter a fold or substitute a color. And this must be borne in mind when we hear accounts of the ludicrous sway of fashion under all but impossible circumstances.

"When the Kaffir girl, who has only just submitted to the bondage of petticoats, insists on distending her solitary garment with a hoop, we augur better things for the progress and civilization of her countrymen than if she clung with fanatical perseverance to the unchanging blanket of a long line of progenitors. Where we can introduce European fashions, we have a better chance of introducing European modes of thought in all their

variety and activity. The sameness of Oriental dress, and the endless change and variety in the West, figure forth all the mighty differences which have set the West above the East.

"Uninspired wisdom has always been hard upon fine clothes, and we think, as regarding dress from a narrow and prejudiced point of view, takes a different line towards it than we can detect in Scripture, which surely recognizes attire as the fit natural exponent of rank, condition, and character. It is a case for fair liberty of private judgment.

"There is no necessary connection between a bit of bright color that delightful scarlet that lightens up the landscape and vanity. If a woman will mainly seek to please father and mother, brothers, sisters, friends, lover, or husband, she will not be too gay or pleasant to look upon for her own well-being and best interests, however bright, pretty, or charming she may make herself by adorning herself in modest apparel under the teaching of a refined and cultivated taste."

I have given these excellent ideas and opinions to show that one masculine mind has looked on the art of dress from the standpoint of a philosopher and a Christian. From my heart I thank the writer, who has, no doubt, unconsciously answered some of a series of questions on this subject of womanly attire, which, as editress of the

"Lady's Book," I put forth in that journal some years ago. Now I will ask my readers, who, I am sure, are my friends, to examine these questions.

1. Are the mothers of men who rule the world found among the loose-robed women, or among the women who dress in closer-fitting apparel?

2. Is there not the greatest improvement of the human race where the fashions of dress are most subject to change?

3. Can a people who go naked, or only half-covered, be Christian, or ever become Christianized, unless they clothe themselves?

4. Are not those nations most morally refined in civilization and Christianity where the costume of men and women differs most essentially?

The Bible has lessons of true wisdom on dress: I shall

refer to this teaching in some future paper. In the mean time, my readers may find, in the philosophy of the British scholar, some new ideas, that are not to be lightly treated.

Like all the arrangements of a wise Providence, this universal desire to be comely in one another's eyes is, under proper regulation, the source of much that is useful, valuable, and commendable. It prompts ingenuity and promotes industry; comfortable homes are made, families brought up, and public prosperity increased, by this

ceaseless ministration to the personal adornment which so thoroughly pervades civilized life, the art of dress, uniting both as cause and consequence of this civilization.

A home where the decencies and the prettinesses of the toilet are put by as of no account can neither be comfortable nor Christian. The first necessities of outward adornment are cleanliness and neatness, and these are needed for health as well as beauty. To be well dressed does not mean to be expensively arrayed. Form, colors, adaptation are far more important than costli

ness.

We would have every woman study how she can, in accordance with modesty, discretion, and duty, present the most pleasing personal appearance. Let her discrimination and taste be exercised in the choice of colors that become her, and in styles that best suit her face, her age, and her fortune. A woman who is, either from indolence or indifference, careless about her own personal apparel will not be apt to make her own home pleasant. She must dress for her husband as she would have done for her lover, and be as agreeable as possible in her own house, and with her nearest and dearest friends. true lady at home is the lady everywhere.

The

Some good people, sensible and right in most things, have such a desire to crush out all vanities, that they would subvert all taste in dress and decoration.

Have they counted the cost of their reform? Would

it not be somewhat in the style of Dean Swift, who advised the man “to cut off his feet to save the cost of his shoe-leather?"

VI. RECREATION.

T is one thing to indulge in playful rest, and an

IT

other to be devoted to the pursuit of pleasure. Gayety of heart, during the relaxation of labor, and quickened by satisfaction in the accomplished duty or perfected result, is altogether compatible with, nay, even in some sort arises out of, a deep internal seriousness of disposition."

Thus wisely writes the great art-critic of Englishmen, John Ruskin, on the subject of recreation.

Probably most persons will agree in the general scope of these opinions, that recreations or amusements, as we usually term these seasons of innocent enjoyment, are needed in our homes, if we would make them the places of family happiness and domestic confidence and love.

But when we come to the particular modes of expressing this "gayety of heart," which all Christians would tolerate, if not encourage, there arise differences of opinion among good people, — differences so wide in regard to one particular amusement, that the character of our