The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-07-30
Extravaganza In the Pursuit and Repub'
lican Enjoyment OF Wealth.

The rspidity with which large fortunes are
acquired in this country, without the neces
siiy of much education or refued intelIi.
gence, is the source of great deal of the
tasteless extravaganza and gaudy show that
characterize The style Of living of our So
called fashionable society,"" The family
who by a sudden turn of fortunes wheel,
rise at once from the obscurty of mediocre
position in the world Of gentility, to station
in the front rank of "Upper-ten-dom," are
naturally desirous 10 signalize their calumn-
alton by stunning display Of resources, and
their previous education (or rather their want
of one) renders their effort to shine more
conspicuous by their gorgeous vulgariiy and
bad taste, than by any attribute of increased
refinement and elegance. Their dress, their
manners and their mansions are, consequently,
absurdly exaggerated copies OF the richness,
the self-possessed breeding, and the luxury
of European high life, and the ceremonies of
their fashionable intercourse, iE many in.
sauces are carriraiures of The pomp and Ell.
quette Of the "haut ton" Of foreign aslstoc-
racy. Parade with them becomes fuss :;
courtesy, affectation, confidence, impudence;
privilege, license; elegance, and coslliness,
profusion and extravaganza; and exclusive.
ness, presumption.
In country founded on principles of so.
cial and political liberty and equality, this
attempt 10 initiate the fashionable vices of
The monarchial system leads inevitably to
abuse and exaggeration, and produces dis.
content and envious..' ..'ill-feeling among lha,
very large class of respectable people, who,
with equal rights, have not the ability or the
fortune 10 indulge in equal luxury, and must
be "snubbed" by those whom chance alone
has placed socially above them, while they
are fully conscious of their own moral and
intellectual right 10 stand at least in the same
rank of worldly consideration.
And besides these evils. there is also an.
other, even greater, which this national folly
encourages; this is the morbid hankerng af-
Ter riches, and the consequent sacrifice Of
comfort, intellectual culture, and often the
nicer shades of honesty and honor, to the
eager pursuit of the coveted wealth which is
10 enable the possessor 10 assume position
among the gorgeous circles OF The money OK.
clusives, who form The upper stratum, por
excellence, of our large metropolitan commu-
mites. AS our contemporary, the Sandusky
Register tersely remarks, in this connection {:
"Here, in nutshell lies what we regard
as tho great evil of republican institutions;
not that the evil approaches ever so remotely
the good: no we are hopeful indeed Of lib
erty and tree institulions-but when there is
danger is it not we'll TO be on The lookout
to avoid ii. So many men acquire immense
riches in America, and The lists are SO equally
open 10 all, that ambition and competition
are feverishly, unna,urally excited. There
is one universal struggle for wealth going on,
in which health and happiness are often
overthrown, and in which virue, honesty,
peace, mental repose and spiritual growth
will be overwhelmed, and every private and
national virtue deterioated, and 10 which
even public prosperity will fall a victim, if
the combatants do not pause 10 consider what
risks are Iun-what periled by this mad
"fever of living" to grow rich"