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Editorial
October 24, 1800
Virginia Argus
Richmond, Virginia
What is this article about?
This editorial criticizes the absurd trade of valuable American goods like tobacco and rice for trivial British imports such as straw hats, urging American women to prioritize domestic manufacturing, ingenuity, and national pride over imitating European fashions.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
How absurd must it appear to Britain, to observe a cargo of straw hats, and other trumpery equally as superfluous, shipped to the United States.--for a cargo of tobacco, RICE, NAVAL-STORES, &c. We must appear to them somewhat similar to the natives of the North-West coast, who exchange their articles of real value, for some trifling trinkets which may be picked up in any toy-shop.
The ridiculous fashions of England, to be followed by the American ladies, is a reflection on their own ingenuity instead of imitating their follies, and becoming the dupes of their extravagance, as it is in the power of the Americans to weave straw or silk into as many alluring forms as can be produced in Europe. A country girl, or even a city lady, would appear to more advantage in her own manufacture, than arrayed in the gaudy attire of a foreigner--a country girl to turn her cotton cloth into a straw hat or a pair of red heeled shoes, is an exchange which neither adds to the ornament of her person, nor gives any evidence of her economical calculation.
There is a national pride, which should ever characterize the women of America; the gentility of their manner and their personal accomplishment, can never receive additional lustre by imitating the fripperies of Europe.
(Boston Centinel.)
The ridiculous fashions of England, to be followed by the American ladies, is a reflection on their own ingenuity instead of imitating their follies, and becoming the dupes of their extravagance, as it is in the power of the Americans to weave straw or silk into as many alluring forms as can be produced in Europe. A country girl, or even a city lady, would appear to more advantage in her own manufacture, than arrayed in the gaudy attire of a foreigner--a country girl to turn her cotton cloth into a straw hat or a pair of red heeled shoes, is an exchange which neither adds to the ornament of her person, nor gives any evidence of her economical calculation.
There is a national pride, which should ever characterize the women of America; the gentility of their manner and their personal accomplishment, can never receive additional lustre by imitating the fripperies of Europe.
(Boston Centinel.)
What sub-type of article is it?
Trade Or Commerce
Social Reform
What keywords are associated?
American Manufacturing
Import Criticism
National Pride
Women Fashion
European Fripperies
Domestic Ingenuity
What entities or persons were involved?
Britain
American Ladies
Women Of America
Boston Centinel
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Promotion Of Domestic Manufacturing And National Pride Over European Imports
Stance / Tone
Critical Of Imports And European Fashions, Advocating Self Reliance And Ingenuity
Key Figures
Britain
American Ladies
Women Of America
Boston Centinel
Key Arguments
Importing Trivial British Goods Like Straw Hats For Valuable American Products Like Tobacco And Rice Appears Absurd And Devalues American Worth.
American Women Should Not Imitate Ridiculous English Fashions, Reflecting Poorly On Their Ingenuity.
Americans Can Produce Equally Alluring Straw Or Silk Items Domestically.
Women Appear More Advantageously In Homemade Attire Than Foreign Gaudy Clothes.
Exchanging Cotton Cloth For Imported Straw Hats Or Shoes Is Uneconomical And Unornamental.
National Pride Should Characterize American Women, Not Fripperies From Europe.