Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-01-21

WHAT ExrRAvAGAEoE IS DoNG, AND WHAT
Econ MY MIGnT Do.-The following extract is not
too long to be read be fore breakfast. There is a
good deal OF trut good, sound, wholesome truth
in it. We copy from the Boston Traveller:
Alter all, it may be that the prosperity of the
country IL really mostly endangered 5y the extra
vagauce which Pervades too generally all the ranks
OF society, 10 proportion to their mems. Luxury
and prolusou have been the downfall OF as many
nations zas civil strife. In nunbeTl s. instances
toe fruits of uuurIng industry and Iud0mltabe eu-
tgrDrise are sqududered with & wssteful hsnd. Not
wi.hstaudng the vast amount of products which
we export, the balance of trade Is always against
US anu we ar continually in debt a nation. The
people Of Europe look with sSJOnlsbmelt ct tle eX-
lraVagaut expenditure Of the men and women from
the United States who make the tour OF that con-
tiuent We are the most profitable customers OF
the lubricants OF costly articles of luxury all over
the world. The vendors oil such goods come to
our shores and make their fortunes out OF US, IN
the same manner that needy purgeyOr5 gather
around the heirs Of rich estate. Our market is
the principal one for al costly and snowy but fra
gle AMI uLs1Jsgantisl merchants, upon wa.I
the largcs. profits are realized by the mauuiaclu.-
ers 10 the furnishing OF our houses, and IN female
attic we 90 ar beyond the most wealthy classes
of Europe. If our staples Of export are at any time
in great demand and bring high prCss, we per-
Cgiye the effect Immediately Ia an I-ttlX Of silks
and hIgh-c cost dress gOOjs TO an enormous amount,
and our imports rise suddenly and always beyond
the value, however large 1t may be, OF our exports.
Ia the families Of many Of the nobility and gen
try Of England, possessing an annual income winch,
OF ITSELF would be an ample fortune, there Is great.
er economy of dress and more simplicity Ia the
furnishing OF the dwelling, than there Is IN many
Ol the houses OF our Cluz5ns, who are bsrey able
TO supply the daily wants OF their families by the
closest attention to their business. A friend Of
ours, who sCjourned not long since several months
in the vicinity OF some OF the landed arlstOcraCy
of England, whose ample rent rolls would have
warranted high style OF fashion, was surprised
at the simplicity OF manners prsCtced. Servants
were much more humorous than with US, but the
ladies' mske more account OF one silk d5es5 than
would be thought here ofsd zen. They were gem
orally clothed II goods, substantial wOOlen sJutts,
and display Of ice ,II.Mug Gud jsweIry was re
served for great occasions. Ihc u -ulsure Of the
mansions, instead OF being turned out OF doors
every few years for new and more fashionable
STYLES, was the same which the ancestors Of the
laulues for several generations had possessed
substantial and 10 excellent preservation, but pa n
and without any pgetenslOns TO elegance. Even
the carpets on mauy suites Of psTlOrs had been on
the floor for fifty years, and were expected to do
service for another half century. WIKI US how
different is the state of things. We are wasting
an amount of wealth in this country, on show and
fashion, which, rightly applied, would renoVate
tle condition Ofthe whole population OF the world,
and Clustsnize, cYilizo and educate al mankind.