Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-12-20

manner. True, the price of everything has been
increased, but not to rate that many people
protest
The young gent who AYERS that he can't live
| on six hundred per year, will be found board
ing at fashionable hotel, driving fast horses,
dressing "within an inch of his life," smoking
cigars at $40 per thousand, and perhaps in
dulging in champagne suppers, or an undue
amount of "ten cent drinks" Besides these,
many other petty and useless expenditures COM
bine to use up his income. Why,it would
require constant succession of California dis
coveres TO enable one to keep up with the ex-
| travagances and hollow vanites of society, and
the whims of that worthless old jade, Fash
ion."
How often have we been told that PERSONS
worth lies not in his glossy coat, his fantastic
pants, his gaudy vest, massive watch chain, pat
ent-leather boots or elegant cane. Neither is it
an indication Of prosperity to see young John
Colt, clerk for Steady q Co., dashing along the
" shell road," with 9 40" nag, and treating his
boon.companions to whisky punch all round"
Still, an impression is made on our poor credu-
lity, and when John enters the opera or theatre,
in the glory of white kids and Byronic collar,
silly mammas whisper to simple daughters
"There's Mr.. Colt; he must be doing well
in the world" Alas for our simplicity =
Such swell doing" is as deceptive as shad-
ow, and as hollow as a tomb Very likely John
| finds one thousand per annum deuced mean
salary" al-
Such men, when they are setup in business"
by some fortunate circumstance, carry their old
habits to their counting-rooms or Offices An
expensive house. habits of luxury, servants, in-
attention to business. idleness, careless trading
-debt, faiIure-an auction follows, or is very apt
to follow. We venture to say that many a
break up in business could be traced directly
home to eXtravagant youthful habits, and an un-
due desire to impose upon the world, to make
brass pass current for gold How many hard
working men manage to live comfortably, clothe
their wives and children neat, and have much
happiness and content on less than six hundred
per year! Legions of them do so. Take the
mechanics of this city-their average wages are
less than five hundred dollars per annum, and yet
they live and prosper. They do it by industry
and economy, and in no other way. Very few
debts are incurred for there is no ostentation or
hollow display.
Now, society encourages deception. 1t is
falsity itself, founded upon shallow pretences
1t accepts activity for vigor, dexterity for pro-
fundity, babbling nonsense for common sense
The eye Of keen observer detects, under the
pile of rubbish, very little of true worth.
Thackeray, in his Vanity Fair" has sketch
ed in sharp lines, society and its actors. He
has given pretence and show, emptiness and de-
ceit a merited exposure. When, on the part Of
certain young gents, extravaganza and display,
with shallow knowledge to back it up, is intro
duced to our budding maidens, they send up a
chorus of admiration. Admiration for what |?
Why, the gay clothing, superb dancing, stale
smalI-talk, and exterior gliding, of course. 1t
is just suited to their barren intellects and in
fated ideas. We mean those samples Of wo-
manhood so plenty at the present day-the
| fabrications Of fashionable seminaries and still
more fashionable milliners, who have neglected
grammar for music, and mathematics for draw
| ing and crewel work-whose ideas of life are
made up of absurdites that cold experience
| only can dispel-whose torturings Of the piano
compare well with their whole education all
| jargon and meaningless. Those two classes
above mentioned are running giddy race, which
will end only in the severest trials and most SIM
cere regrets.
We want more truth, more realities and less
deception. The evils we have mentioned are
deep seated and widely prevalent. They lurk
| in secret and walk openly, spreading the seeds
of ruin among all our hopes, and polluting our
dearest interests. Among the youth Of our
land a mistaken and reckless spirit seems to be
gaining ground with alarming strides 1t is a
spirit of competition, not for moral or intellect
ual supremacy, but for outside parade and heart
less arrogance. Realities make up our lives
sooner or later they must overtake us, and then
their gay outside stripped away, we see a miser-
able, CHASTITY skeleton, the only relic of gaudy
exterior.
Vice is growing presumptuous. 1t laughs at
honesty. A spendthrift, living upon the toll of
others, fits through society as man of real
wealth and true ability. We must pause and
consider" Where will this end, what will be
its consequences Give us manhood in its pu-
rty, full of truth, generous impulses, honesty
and intelligence, while true woman, assist
it with her proper influence, her tenderness, and
all the kind feelings of her natural and unper-
verted character. Cincinnati Times.
BoYs.-Boys are admonshed by sensible
writer to beware Of the following description
of company, if they would avoid becoming like
those who enter prisons for their crimes:
/. Those who ridicule their parents or DISC
bey their commands.
2. Those who profane the Sabbath and scoff
at religion.
3. Those who use profane or filthy language.
a. Those who are unfaithful, play truant and
waste their time in idleness.
5. Those who are of quarrelsome temper /;
and who are apt to get into difficulties with