“That feeling has its influence no doubt, and operates very strongly.”

“But is it a right feeling?”

“It is right or wrong, according to the end in view.  If fashion be followed from no higher view than a selfish love of being admired, then the feeling is wrong.”

“Can we follow fashion with any other end?”

“Answer the question yourself.  You follow the fashions.”

“I think but little about them, Mary.”

“And yet you dress very much like people who do.”

“That may be so.  The reason is, I do not wish to be singular.”

“Why?”

“For this reason.  A man who affects any singularity of dress or manners, loses his true influence in society.  People begin to think that there must be within, a mind not truly balanced and therefore do not suffer his opinions, no matter how sound, to have their true weight.”

“A very strong and just argument why we should adopt prevailing usages and fashions, if not immoral or injurious to health.  They are the badges by which we are known—­diplomas which give to our opinions their legitimate value.  I could present this subject in many other points of view.  But it would be of little avail, if you are determined not to be convinced.”

“I am not so determined, Mary.  What you have already said, greatly modifies my view of the subject.  I shall, at least, not ridicule your adherence to fashion, if I do not give much thought to it myself.”

“I will present one more view.  A right attention to dress looks to the development of that which is appropriate and beautiful to the eye.  This is a universal benefit.  For no one can look upon a truly beautiful object in nature or art without having his mind correspondingly elevated and impressed with beautiful images, and these do not pass away like spectrums, but remain ever after more or less distinct, bearing with them an elevating influence upon the whole character.  Changes in fashion, so far as they present new and beautiful forms, new arrangements, and new and appropriate combination of colors, are the dictates of a true taste, and so far do they tend to benefit society.”

“But fashion is not always so directed by true taste.”

“A just remark.  And likewise a reason why all who have a right appreciation of the truly beautiful should give some attention to the prevailing fashion in dress, and endeavor to correct errors, and develop the true and the beautiful here as in other branches of art.”

A DOLLAR ON THE CONSCIENCE.

“FIFTY-FIVE cents a yard, I believe you said?” The customer was opening her purse.

Now fifty cents a yard was the price of the goods, and so Mr. Levering had informed the lady.  She misunderstood him, however.

In the community, Mr. Levering had the reputation of being a conscientious, high-minded man.  He knew that he was thus estimated, and self-complacently appropriated the good opinion as clearly his due.