The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-10-17
From the Philddetphio RuUetia.
Plain Words SeasOnabIy Spoken.

from inc fhtt00etphtO hUHetta.
Plain Words SeasonabIy Spoken.
1t may be remarkable that many persons
in speaking of the present scarcity of money
and its probable results upon society," COM
fort themselves, after all, with the reflection
that "the hard times will bring people to their
Senses" and that we shall have at any rate.
less dissipation AMI extaavagances this win
ter. There are also certain consultations in
an anticipation of reduced prices in market
by ''othcr people" if the usual amount of par.
ties, expensive dressing, and extravagant
amusement is not INDUCED in; IN fact we
might almost venture the assertion that
there is no inconsiderable portion of the
community, even among the young, to
whom a removal of the high pressure of win
ter expense will be positive relief
And really, when We come to reflect on it.
it becomes apparent that those pleasures
which we could the most, are those which
we could most readily dispense with; while
those social joys which always afford the
greatest qualification, and which need cost
very little, are the least cultivated. There
Is no reason why friends cannot meet of an
evening without expensive refreshments, and
there is an absurd tyranny ia that fashion
which limits the use of splendid dress to a
very few parties, where it is very soon spoil
ed by the refreshments in question, or torn
in consequence of its endless folds. In fact,
the great majority, of those social pleasures
VIII ch confer the greatest qualification and
leave the plcaSantest memories, are not at
all of very expensive nature; and that they
have become SO is owing to self imposed
tyranny, the true ground for which must be
sought in a ride llous ostentation of wealth,
particularly among those who are far from
being really wealthy.
If there is one weakness more generally
predominant than another one single folly
which has worked its way more deeply into
society in this country than in any other on
the lace of the earth, it is the continual pre-
tence, in word, deed, and casual intimationS
Of not feeling or cOnceivng any amount Of
expenditure TO be in the least degree bur-
den. There is no folly SO miserable as this
and none SO prevalent. Persons whom we
know to be poor speak casually and lightly
of any great expense they may have encoun
tered, as though it merely formed an ordina
ry item of accustomed payment; and the arr
Of this variety of light and elegant lying ha.
been cultivated by them since childhoo -
Certainly We do not advocate any person.:
dwelling on what lie or she may have paid fOl
this or that, or adverting with emphasis to i
in conversation, but the popular manner tt
which we refer, of always talking rich,' /,
the very refinement of snobbish ostentation
and can oily obtain in state of society where
money alone is getting to be rapidly regarded
as the great governing influence. There il
4 n nm ntry1 E,,pN vx-tn toll r,.,<
| rich obtains as it does here. There is n,
other place-not even Paris-where youn.
! gil, who cannot afford dress or set o
jewelry, will examine it with such buyin!
air as here, or remark naturally in turning
way that it's very pretty, but not quite St
fine as want" As for the men, they have
made perfect science Of this species Of mon
dacity, basing it on the principle that mai
must do all in his power to keep up bis busi
ness credit; in the end it is all unsound ant
/ all foolish. Undue credit for having money
either in man Or woman. generally forces ex
| travaoance upon them as naturally as tn,
wind blows tie snow down into the valley
Woe to the valley whose warm idle vapor at
tracted the eager wind of the idle report
which overwhelmed it with an avalanche o
ruin !
Our whole social life has rapidly become
Of late years. a staring, CANDY reflex of one
fixed idea-mOney, money, money. Dress
and furniture, books and pleasures-nay, even
the very children are mediums, not SO much
of comfort, taste, intellect, enjoyment and af
lection, as of the possession OF the great NOV
ing power, '.T0njonrS rargenti'' In nine ca
ses out of ten, this wealth is out of all proper
ton to the taste, education or knowledge Of
the owner or of his children-despite the very
popular delusion cnterainedby most persons
thlt if they were rich, they would show the
world how money ought to be spent. And
such must continue to be the case, until q
more widely disseminated system of deeply
laid refined education and a more careful cul
tlvatiOn OF the true amenities OF life, have
taught US, as a nation, that though wealth is
Il fine thing, it is not the sine qua non, and thai
! those pleasures and pursuits best worth living
for have nothing in common with osteIratiOn
splendid but useless upholstery, dressc.
whose cost must be proclaimed, wedding,
which are mere vanity fairs, betrothels ir
which the merit Of the gentleman is wei.h he
by tie amount he invests in the engagement
ring, and piety which is appraised by the cost
OF the pew. We have no desire to deliver
one of the old homiics against extravaganza
Experience has shown us that TO the Flora
McFilmsies and Jenny Jessamines Of the
day, the severest remarks Of the kind fall like
delicious incense on their senses, so fascinated
are they at the idea of belonging to the world
of Money-Fashion. But We could sincerei,
wish, at time like this, when the whole com
munity is doing bitter pennance for its Nam
mon worship, that those who have so far KEEP
step with the music, would reflect whittier
they have been marching to, and whether :
greater amount of true pleasure mi sht no
| be had out of life, without all Of the hollow
show, Idle expense and feverish working ou
of the brains which now accompany it.