Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-01-09
What Extravaganza Is doing, and vhet EeOnOm
mi 0h

What Extravaganza Is doing. and vThet Economy
might do.
The following extract is not too long TO be read
before breakfast. There is great deal of truth,
good sound. wholesome truth, in it. We copy from
the Boston Traveller:
After ALL it may be that the prosperity OF the
country is really mostly endangered by the extrava-
ganCe which pervades 100 generally all ranks of So
ceiy in proportion to their Luxury and pro.
fusion have been the downfall OF as many nations
the civil strife. In numberess instances, the fruits
of our untrng industry and lndomllable enterprise
are squandered with wasteful hand. NotwIthsland-
ing the vast amount of products which we export
the balance of trade is always against us, and We are
continually in debt, as a nation. The people OF Eu-
rope look with astonishment at the extravagant ex'
penditure of the and women from the United
States, who make the tour of that continent. We
are the most profitable OF the fabrlCans of
costly articles of luxury all over the world. The
vendors of such goods come to shores and make
their fortunes out of us, in the that
needy purVeyors gather around The heirs of a rich
tate. Our market is the principal one for all costly
and snowy, but fragile and unsubstantial merchan-
disc, upon which the largest profits are realized by
the manufacturers In the furnishing of our houses
and in female attire, 90 far beyond the most veal
thy classes Of Europe. Ii staples OF export are
any lime in great demand, and bring high prices,
We perceive the effect Immediately in an influx of
silks and high cost dress goods to an enormous
amount, and our imports rise suddenly, and always
beyond the value, however large it may be, of our
exports,
In The families of many of the nobility and gentry
of England, possessing annual income which of
itself would be an ample fortune, there is greater
economy Of dress and more simplicity in the furnish
ing OF the dwellings, than there is in many of the
houses of our citizens who are barely 10 supply the
daily wants of their families by the closest attention
TO their business.
A friend of ours, who sojourned not long since
several months in the vicinity of Of the landed
arStocrscy of England whose ample rent rolls would
have warranted high style OF fashion, was sur
prised at the simplicity of manners practced Ser
wants were much more numerous than with US. but
the ladies made account of one silk dress than
would DO thought here of Dozen They were gen.
orally clothed in good substantial wooden stus, and
play of fine clothing and jewelry was reserved
for great occasions. The furniture OF the mansions,
instead of being turned out of doors every few years
for new ard more fashionable styles, was the same
which the ancestors of the families for several gen
sralons had possessed substantial and in excellent
preservation, but plain and without any pretension
10 elegance. Even the carpets many suits OF par
Tors had been on the floor for fifty years. and were
expected to do service for another half century
With US how different is the state of things. We
wasting an amount of wealth in this country on
show and fashion, which, rightly applied, would re-
novAte the condition of the whole population of the
world, and cbrstianze, ciyze and educate all man.
lind