The true Democrat., 1854-08-23
From the Buffalo Advertiser, July IA. 0bism in New York

The fate of MT. Schuyler furnishes a whole
 sermon to snobs everywhere, and especially ir New York, which may be listened to with profit by that large and increasing class ot persons. The family of Schuyler is one of the most respectable in the country, and so fa1 this man differs from most of those who build extravagant houses, drive expensive equipages, and dash and spend the money of other people, in that most snobbish of all cities-the great, noisy, dirty city of New York. Occasionally one of the "arlstocracy'' comes down with a rush, and then there opens scene of extrav- asance, folly and fraud, that appals the pub- llc who live in quiet country villages, or dwell upon the broad farms in the rural districts, who have heard with wonder of the noble mansions, and the many servants and the gold and silver of these city lords
 And so It IS that extravaganza and foolish deslre to live In large houses, and own grand carrlages-to outdo one another in these things, besides being ridiculous in itself, brings the miserable family who try 1t down to beggary and rum, or entail upon their children habits and notions of life that utterly destroy them. It IS the great prevailing vice of this time-it may indeed be called the great characteristic of the times. It IS manifested more or less in all our cities and villages, and its influences is seen III the debasement of men and women, and the complete ruin of children Every successful speculator, or fortune operator, must initiate, and Ii possible excel his neighbor, the lucky banker or money-making grocer and to do thls, without regard to expense away they go into the marble and satin, the rose wood and silver keep extravagant carriages with horses to match, and give parties where Brussels and Wilton outvie in their color the silks and the wine which make up the chief part ot the entertainment. Up goes the new house, with all the decoration which vulgar or refned taste may suggest. Up it goes into the ar huge pile, or fantastic residence, but not room in 1t for the comfort of the own CT and his family-all of it for show and the public gaze.
 The women Haunt about in lace and laz- ness, or recline upon soft cushions in fine car rlages, neither knowing nor caring whether the money that keeps them up be stolen or honest ly gained. They are happy in Fifth avenue glory, and the fact that they dash as much as the richest of their neighbors. For an Ameri- can of fortune-real solid fortune-to dash into all this extravaganza, is folly; but that man is guilty Of downright wickedness who upon little money, goes to such foolish expense ]; for he must rob somebody to carry out his plans; or lf he has enough to warrant 1t all, his children, when his fortune is divided among them, will have all the silly and ex- travagant notions of their father, without his money to give them reality. Out of this mis- erable life there springs evils worse than bankruptcy. The sins of the father are vis- tied upon the children to the third generation Of what use to society the children of such people Sons who have been educated to beheve that all this splendor constitutes the best of life; and that fast horses and cham page are emblematic of high life. Daughters brought up by a silly, ridiculous mother, who glorles in her carpets and curtains, her carriage and her parties, and the fashionable training of her children.
 Nice creatures these for life battle, in world where energy, and industry, and endu- rance are worth to them more than all the airs, graces and style that they learned in the paternal drawing of foreign masters Out of this struggle to excel in this sort of life, there spriL s. too, fraud and chicanery, and all man. ner of crime; for in the contest, gold, gold, is the end and aim of all-the means are not regarded. The sensible part of the commu- nity laugh at this folly, and laugh loudly, too, at coarse vulgarity parading itselfi in gay equip ages; and moving about with all the airs and afectations of snobbish high life-people ele- vated above their fellows by stock operation or a rise in town lots, and rejoicing thereafter in tashy vehicles and in gaudy houses.
 It they made fools of themselves alone, it would all be proper enough. But the effect upon their families and on society is most to be dreaded. In a country where the law di- vides among mans heirs all his estate after death, unless disposed of by will, and where the chances are that property will not remain in the family beyond the second generation, it is utter folly to build palaces to live in; far better would it be to expend the same money in building schools or founding asylums, the benefit of which the rich mans heirs may need. On, on, goes our American life heter skelter-hurly urly-on it goes? Dash make sensation-get tmoney-honestly if you can-but get money-educate children after the same fashion, and then die and be forgot ten.