Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-11-07
AMERICAN EXTRAVAGANGE.


The accomplished authoress of "Three Expert
ments in Living" has not only contributed spark
ling gem to our native literature, but has taught her
countrymen lesson in economy and morals most
appropriate to the times, and is observed, must
prove salutary in its bearing on all the relations o. e'
There is no period of any continuance in which we
do not hear the cry of "hard times" What shou'o
make the times hard in such a country as ours ?
Nothing surely, but famine, and this is scourse
which Divine Providence has hitherto spared us
There has been a remarkable succession of album
dant crops, yet ears greeted with the cry OF
hard times. What has our young and vigorous
country to do but provide for its wants? We have
the cheapest government that was ever maintained.
We have no dangerous and powerful neighbors to
compel us to squander millions in fortlfyng an ex
tensive fror tier. We not compelled by the same
cause to keep up large standing army, to consume
in useless parade in tents armor and provisions the
fruits of the earth which they do not help to pro-
duce. Nor is navy very extensive A few
ships of war make flag to be respected all over
the globe.
of Europe, able to understand it. There tax
alton is enormous. England has monstrous pub
lie debt, much she can stagger under, pres
sing her down the whole time France has half
million of troops ready at any moment to be called
into the field. The funds to sustain all this armed
force must come from somewhere. 1t must come
from the pockets of the people. 1t must be taken
from the means Of supplying the most common and
urgent wants of life. The cry of hard tines
comes legitimately f:om people thus oppressed
and ground down. But the terror Of the bayonet
stiles the murmur which the bayonet causes, and
thus the men live on from generate to generation,
under the severest pressure Of hard times, without
complaint, and with scarcely confessing it to each
other. But here, in this country, we. have hard
times without any legitimate cause. What is the
cause of this? There be but reason, and
that reason is extravaganza. The whole country is
trying Mrs. Lee third experiment of living. Those
who have not read her book, and there are few we
hope who have not must be informed that the fam
lily whose history the authoress gives tried three
periments in living The first living within
their means. While this experiment was in process
of trial everything went smoothly and well. The
next was that of living up to their means. Here
things began to G" badly. There was occasionally
hard rub nothing. however, very disastrous Last
came the experiment of living beyond their means
AS may be imagined, everything began to 60 wrong
They got in debt Things went worse and worse,
till, finally they came to stand. The Americans
plainly trying the last experiment. for everybody
and every thing is in debt railroad is to be built.
About half money enough is subscribed and the
rest is made credit. The debt finally swallows
up every thing. man undertakes to build house.
His plan at first is modest and reasonable. But as
the work goes OH his ideas enlarge, and before he
gets through he finds that he has been construct
ing palace and he must either sell it or live under
cudcS to live in it at all hazards his troubles have
but begun. He must furnish it, in a style cores
pondng to its costiness and here is another cause
of vexation. There is absolutely no end to the de-
mands of fashion, and he who has made himself its
slave is most sincerely to be pitied.
Two of the most significant symbols of American
extravaganza are mems watches and wOmens dress
es. Every man must sport god watch. Califor-
mia ITSELF the Ell Dorado of modern times is scarce
ly rich enough, one would suppose to furnish the
cases of the watches worn by the Americans. Gen
temen in Europe, with moderate fortunes which
they have accumulated by their own industry and
saved by their economy, do not think of INDUCING
themselves in gold watches. They modesty wear
a silver The climax of extravaganza is reach
annually 60 abroad for the purchase of silks are
enough alone to upset the balance of trade. There
is woman poor that cannot afford silk dress,
and some, half score. And then what an enor-
nous quantity of the precious fabric is consumed in
making costume Ia mode! Coaches and omni-
| buses have become too small to them away
The sidewalks getting too narrow to contain two
OF them abreast Now what is the use of all this ex
travagance? 1t is for the exclusive benefit Of the
silk-grOwers of France and the silkweavers of Ly.
and MarScilis. A sensible woman is no more
| agreeable when she is environed with hounces and
furbeows than when she is arrayed in plain attire
Indeed it argues badly for womans sense that she
| is incapable Of withstanding the mandates of fash
| ion. And then let them consider the moral effect
upon the rising generation What can be worse
than to train up family of daughters in the slave
ry of fashion and in habits of extravaganza ?-Bal
tim0re Sum-