Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1801-08-19
FROM THE COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER.
Ncn eft ina tuta voluxtas-Ovi.
Mr.. EDITOR.

Mr. eft ina tuta voluuta,-Ovi.
MR. EDITOR,
IN mott of our Commercial towns, one
concludes from the affected manners of the
native citizens, that they acted from the
impulfe of that parental .rnonition, your
own will rcfpeeing your ordinary conduct
is no. iafe-If we examine, we tiaall find
this lacred monitor to be no other than
the aylihn living of fome European or his
iervile copyilts, Of their magni6cence and
the difeiples i, daily makes equally vain.
Thele are frlt thoEe who have an imnedi-
ate communication and are admitted (ac-
cording to the faihionable CAN'T into the
hrR circ!es-then thoie who are diiciplin-
ed through the medium of iome of thelc
favored few, upon whom they depend like
infan:s) for information about every thing
which relates to ffyle; in fine, each grade
have their dependents whom they are in
itrufting and preparing for ahigher iphere,
and who cha,echiie with all that confidence
and ielf.fuficiency which acknowledged
fureriority for whatever cauie IS lure to
create-BeGdes a comfortable portion If
the community, Whole lcis icienti6c but
lucrative occupations, do not command
that refpea and make that noife among
their tellow.ci citizens, which the calling
and talents of iome others DO, and VIII
o!eated with the attention which pomp ex:
cites, have recourle to it as an auxiliary to
gain no,criety. Among thefe ieveral fpe-
c;;cs of converts to high lite, Mr.. Editor.
| have relation, originally from the
country, prudent faving man, poaeaing
comfortable lhare of pride, and conie-
quently not behind any of his neighbors
il making figure; being fortunate in
trade, he has changed his mode of living
according to his increafe of wealth, from
plain to elegant, and from elegant to pro-
fufe, keeping no company in thefs feyeral
itages, but what he could equal in drefs,
furniture and entertainments. This in
diligence of his growing family in the re-
fncments of falhion in proportion to his
pecuniary ability, mutt | think have i'm
pseGsd upon their minds erroneous isnti-
ments OF morality, and fuch as are not We
~ caGly c4aced. 1t las not only taught
them TO deipile thoie Whole manners were
lcis poliihed than their own, ard Whole
circumstances confined them to circle Of
acquaintance leis elegant than they fire.
quented; but it has taught them TO cofh-
der wealth for no other uie than to fup-
port the poaeaors Of it in luxury, and as
they advanced in the former, to advance
in the latter according to the example Of
their parents, without applying 'any OF its
iurplus to benevolent purpofes. Being !
invited 10 dire and ipend the afternoon
with this relative las much fuppofe to
give me fPecimen of his fplendid way OF
living, and that l might tkerefrom foiIr
an IDEA of his wealth as any thing elle)-I
went, and was announced by tn: Ervan,
in the hall to the matter, who introduced
me to his family, by whom | was received
with tina, formal politeneE ard diisani atten-
ton which the rules OF etiquette preitrite
The time mentioned to dine was two,
made allowance for the flow movements OF
tina, complex machine, equality tamiiy,&
did not arrive till half after but madam,
who thinks it an outrageous breach of the
rules Of the frt circles to be preciie, was
not ready with her dinner till after three.
My k;nsmnn's wife is woman alto from |