At the time appointed for the hearing and decision, the demoniac competitors again assembled before their imperial arbiter; not this time in secret conclave, but in the presence of thousands of congregated fiends, who, having been apprised of the new plan about to be presented for peopling the Commonwealth of Hell with recruits from earth, had come up in all directions from their dismal abodes, to hear those plans reported, and witness the awarding of the prize for the one judged most worthy of adoption. Lucifer then mounted his throne, commanded silence, and ordered the competitors to advance and present, in succession, such plans as they would lay before him for his consideration and decision. They did so; and one of them, a young and genteel-looking devil, to whom, from a suppose congeniality of tastes and feelings with the objects of his care, had been especially assigned the duty of supervising the fashionable walks of society, now stepped confidently forward and said: “I present for your consideration, most honored Lucifer, I present FASHION as one of those social institutions of men which might the most easily become, with a little fostering at our hands, to us the most productive of vices, under a name least calculated to alarm. It already holds an almost omnipotent sway over the wealthier, or what they call the higher, classes of society, who hesitate at no sins that can be committed with its sanction; and the disposition is every day growing stronger and stronger, among all classes, to fall in with its behests. Encourage its progress, make its rule absolute with all, and the world’s boasted morality would trouble us, devils, no more. This would be the direct and natural result among the most wealthy, who would leave no vice unpracticed, no sin uncommitted, provided they could excuse themselves under plea that it was fashionable. With those of more limited means the effect would be still better; for devotion to Fashion would beget extravagance--extravagance, poverty--poverty, desperation--desperation, crime; so with all classes, the result, for our purpose, would be equally favorable and _much the same_. The new vice I therefore propose is the one to be made out of, and go under the name of, FASHION.” “There may be something in this conception,” said Lucifer, thoughtfully, after the speaker had closed; “but is it safe against all contingencies? What if the world should take it into their heads to make it fashionable to be good?” “Not the least danger of that,” rejoined the other, promptly. “That is a contingency about as likely to happen as that your highness should turn Christian,” he added, with a sardonic grin. “You are right,” responded Lucifer; “and, as your scheme comes within the rule, on the score of originality, we will reserve it for consideration.”