CHAPTER XL 



FASHION. 



423. To say nothing about Fashion under the general 

 head of Ceremonial Institution would be to leave a gap; 

 and yet Fashion is difficult to deal with in a systematic man 

 ner. Throughout the several forms of social control thus 

 far treated, we have found certain pervading characters 

 traceable to common origins; and the conclusions reached 

 have hence been definite. But those miscellaneous and 

 ever-changing regulations of conduct which the name Fash 

 ion covers, are not similarly interpretable ; nor does any 

 single interpretation suffice for them all. 



In the Mutilations, the Presents, the Visits, the Obei 

 sances, the Forms of Address, the Titles, the Badges and 

 Costumes, cfec. we see enforced, not likeness between the 

 acts of higher and lower, but unlikeness: that which the 

 ruler does the ruled must not do; and that which the ruled 

 is commanded to do is that which is avoided by the ruler. 

 But in those modifications of behaviour, dress, mode of 

 life, etc., which constitute Fashion, likeness instead of un 

 likeness is insisted upon. Respect must be shown by follow 

 ing the example of those in authority, not by differing from 

 them. How does there arise this contrariety? 



The explanation appears to be this. Fashion is intrinsi 

 cally imitative. Imitation may result from two widely 

 divergent motives. It may be prompted by reverence for 

 one imitated, or it may be prompted by the desire to assert 



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