The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-16

The fate of Mr.. Schuyler furnishes a whole SER
mon to sn0bs everywhere, and especially in New
York, which may be listened to with profit by that
large and increasing class Of persons The family
Of Schuyler is one Of the most respectable in the
country, and so far this man differs from most of
those who build extravagant houses, drive expen.
other people, in that most spobish Of all cities
the geat, noisy, dirty city OF New York. Occa-
sonally one Of the aristocracy" comes down with
rush, and then there opens scene Of extrava.
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.
sire to live in large houses and grand carriages
Ito Guido one another in these things, besides be-
ing ridiculous in ITSELF brings the miserable family
that try II down to beggary aud ruin. entail upon
their children habits and notions Of life that utterly
destroy them 1t is the great prevailing vice of this
time-it may indeed be called the grand character
stic Of the times. II is manifested more or less in
all our cities and villages, and its influences is seen
in the debasement of meu and women and the COM
plete ruin Of children. Every successful SPECTATOR
or fortune operator, must initiate, and il possible
excel, his neighbor the lucky banker or money
making grocer; and to do this without regard to
expense, away they go into the marble AT satin
the rosewood and silver, keep extravagant car
iiages with horses to match, and give parties
where Brussels and Wilton outve in their color the
silks and the wine which make up the chief part of
all the decoration which vulgar or refined taste
may suggest. Up 1t goes into the air huge pile
or fantastic residence, but not room in it for the
comfort OF the owner and his family-al Of it for
show and the public gaze. The women faunt about
In lace and laziness or recline upon soft cushions
in fine carriages. neither knowing nor caring
whether the money that keeps them up be stolen
or honestly gained. They are happy in Fifth ave-
the richest of their neighbors For an American Of
fortune-real solid fortune-to dash into all this ex
tTayagsnce is folly; but that man is guilty Of down
right wickedness who, upon little money goes to
such vast and foolish expense for he must rob
somebody TO carry out his plans or If he has enough
to warrant It 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 all this miserable life
there springs evils worse than bankruptcy. The
sins Of the father visited upon the children to
tie third generation. az what use to society are
the children OF such people, Sons who have been
educated to believe that all this splcndor constitutes
theibest Of life, and that fast horses and champagne
are emblematic OF high life. Daughters brought up
by silly, ridiculous mother, who glories in her
pets 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 ana endurance are
worth TO them more than all the airs, graces and
style that they learned in the paterna drawing
OF foreign masters Out of this struggle TO ex.
Gel in this sort of life, there springs, too, fraud
and chcanery, and all manner OF crime for in
the contest gold, gold il the end and aim Of all
the means are not regarded. The sensible
part of the community laugh at this folly, and
laugh loudly, too at coarse vugarty parading
itself In gay equipsges, and moving about with
all the airs and Alterations Of snobbish high life
people elevated above their fellows by stock
operation or a rise in town lots, and rejoicing
thereafter in nashy vehicles and in caudy houses,
II they made fools OF themselves alone II would
all be proper enough. But the eject upon their
families and on society Is most TO be dreaded In
country where the law divides among mans heirs
all his estate after death, unless disposed Of by
will, and where the chances are that property win
not remain in the family beyond the second genera.
ton il is utter folly to build palaces to live in; far
better would it be TO expend the same money In
building schools or founding asynms the benefit Of
which the rich mans heirs may need On, on.
goes our American life heller skelter-huriy
burly-on IL goes Dash make . scnsation-get
morey--honestly IL you can-but get money-edu-
cate children after the same fashion. and then die
and be forgotten.