Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-06-11
Don't Live Too Fast.

Doh'G Live Too Fast.
The prosperous condition of affairs, for several
years past, has led to an increase of private ex-
penditure. Men, having made money easily, seen
determined. to spend it freely. Where Brus'
sells carpeting formerly satisfied the utmost am
bition, Wilton will now scarcely do; where vii,
ton once answered, Administer is scarcely good
enough at present; and where Administer, "rord
avis," was sported, impossible substitutes, OF a
more costly character still, are onged for despair
ingly. Ideas Of furniture have undergone SIM
liar revolution. The same inflated ideas, too
have risen up with regard to dwelling houses
/ individuals ofmoderate means, who used to think
two-story house quite nice enough, now sigh
for threestores or aspire after four; and fashion
ables who considered plain brick very desirable,
! are now discontented unless they can shine IN
sandstone, or gull in stucco. The old streets
are quiet deserted by all who pretend to ton.-
Nothing will do now but lots in the West End,
at eighteen dollars foot; and blessed, indeel, is
the man who can secure one, opposite square
lat even that! The good, substantial, unpreten-
! ding pattern of plain front, with dormer win
dows, is quite secuted out of good society; and
nothing will satisfy folks now but ornamented
windows, and carved doorway, worth almost
the former price of a dwelling. In word, De
are Hving too fast.
For as it is with furniture and house, so it is
with horses. Everybody that IS anybody, or
wishes to be considered such, must ride now
days.
We might multiply instances without end
Ladies who, a few years since, were well content
with lutestring at dollara yard, are now scarce.
| ly satisfied even with brocade at three: and
where ten yards once made an all sufficient dress
pattern twenty are now indispensable to be in
the mode. Families, that spent their summer
economically at farm houses, now fout at Sarato-
ga, or shine at Newport. Champagne has sup
planted claret at the table; claret driven out por-
ter porter excluded water, the sweetest and heal
thest of all. Were plain joint once served for
dinner, canvas backs, young lamb, or other rare
and costly deicacies are now considered lndls-
pensable. In every direction, indeed, luxury
makes strides. A bachelor now has need of an
income such as would once have satisfied man
with family; and the husband and father re-
quires for his single household, the means that,
twenty years ago, would have supported two
families, if not three. Daughters are sent to
fashionable schools, at an enormous cost, there
to learn extravaganza, to acquire habits OF Idle
ness, and in short to become fitted for anything
but being the wives Of poor men. Sons are ruin
ed with unlimited pocket money, late hours, and
almost total absence of parental control. Thus
we not only waste our own estates, but perpetu-
ate the vice in our children. In every way we
are hving too fast.
Our grandtathers did not make their riches
in this spendthrift fashion. Their dwellings were
small, their furniture plain, an equipage was
sierra incognita" generally. Instead of driving
fast horses, they stuck fast to their business in
stead of aiming for senseless show, they showed
their sense by a life of thrift. Hundreds now en-
Joy, in substantial rents the fruits ofther labors;
but alas! while living on their estates, we neg
lect their economy. Others of us have to earn
our livelihood, like them, by perseverng toll; but
we seuander where they saved, and may yet die
beggars where they became millionaries. We
boast of our superior wisdom, but in the great
end of material life. the amassing of competen-
cy for old age, we exhibit an instance offolly
that would have won US the name of idiots cen
tury ago. Whatever other faults our forefathers
had they really Eved too tast.
A day of reckoning is sure to come for those Of
us who give way, too much, to this fashionable
extravaganza. 1t is easier to get out ofdepth,
than to wade back safely; and when the tide rises
as rise it will, the thriftess must be overwhelmed.
Though the convulsions, which used to prostrate
the country every few years, appear to be grow
ing more scarce, they have not yet entirely cea-
sed; for some of the old causes still remain; and,
in time, we shall have, assuredy, another tnan-
cia crisis if not catastrophe like that of 40
Let the wise be on our guard. We had better
trim sail before the tempest comes than be cap
sized by the squall with all canvas spread. In
word we must cease lping too tast
Phil. Bulletin.