The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-11
Fashionable FoIlies-Ihe Tendencies OF sO-


Economy no longer exists pure and simple; ex-
travagance of habits is the rule, not the excep-
ton In nothing more do We observe this change
from the simplicity of former years, than in the
dress and social entertainments of the day. We
are told in the fashionable shops where silks and
laces are the principal commodities, that nothing
is too dear for the New York market. The num-
Der Of our successful hdieurs indicates the large
consumption of copfectionaries and more substan-
tial comestibles- A fashionable lady-for in spite
OF Colonel Benton's structures We have such per-
sonages amongst us-cannot now venture abroad
without silk dress worth perhaps fifty dollars;
laces, fifty more; sables fifty more; French hat,
almost fifty more. with bracelets watch, and
charms to match" she moves along capitaliza-
ion of the floating funds of her husband, and this
is but an item if compared with the costly contents
of her boxes and bureaus at home. A dinner
party is a heavy investments course succeeds
course, servants in white Berlin gloves help the
guests to delcaces which would astonish a Hello
gabalus and wines Of the finest flavor, such, in
deed as intelligent travellers assure US can no
where else in the world be found in combna-
tion moisten the throats of the appetizers. There
are dinners given in this city every week. which
surpass those of most English Dukes.
To accomplish such luxuries, every effort is
made by the aspiring and honest industry does
not so easily find the means Business is pushed
to its fuIthcst limits, speculations are entered
into of the greatest magnitude; the more ardent
cannot wait, but boldly seek by fraudulent trans
actions to reach the summit of display at a sin
gle leap. The mania for sudden success per-
vades every class of operators, from the man
who trims your beard to the adventurer who
sends bis half paid for steamers over the ocean.
The steadier and brighter virtues of humanity
fall into disIepute, and patient merit" drag
ging far behind, much contumely from the "un-
worthy takes" And what are the consequences
already? A general decentralization of feeling;
reducing Of the standard of public opinion; an
Indifference to crime; audacty in official plum
derers; the court room turned into debating
society for the amusement Of the spectators, in
stead of being the forum of digniied justice; the
money marts changed into vast gambling places,
where fortunes are made and lost at a blow, in
transactions which the laws OF the land actually
prohibit and denounce as Illegal. Our very reli-
gion has become infected with the temper of the
times Christians vie with each other in the
gaudy construction of their churches, hundreds Of
thousands Of dollars are expended to erect archi-
tectural caverDs, where the preacher is scarcely
visible, in which moreeGus from the opera are
poured forth in harmony with the 50 dim reli-
gious light" and sinners, buried in soft cush-
ions. hear doubtingly and with regret, there
is another and better world.' The
drama, toe. must needs accord with the uni
versal desire Of wealth for pleasure and pleasure
for wealth. This is the moral with which it gains
most success and thousands rush to witness the
career OF Camille the uiumphs of marble
heart, and the fascinations of a courtezan prin-
cess. These are indications in general way OF
the tendencies Of the times. but the details are
infinite The peculiaIties OF individuals become
intensified under the general mania, furnishing
subjects for wits and critics. il we have any,
which would throw those OF Hocarth into the
hade To be distinguished at all hazards, TO
appear If not 20 be, itch, to float in the sea of
fashion, to be even drop of the cream of
cream is just now the folly of the hour, and
the attainment Of the distinction is often at the
expense OF honor. What an excited city is ours
under all these influences Society is a crust on
The side Of sleeping volcanoes, which every nov
and then staItle US with thoir explosions and hor
rify us with their desolations.
When men and women Of fashionable position
constantly meet each other at celebrated refresh
ment saloons: when double wells are worn even
by respectable ladies; when clerks give expensive
dinners to fellow clerks, and their families are
starving at home; when debts are now chiefly
collected by criminal process, and any mans
liberty may be taken from him by an affidavit
drawn NJ by q Tombs lawyer; when companies
with vast nominal capital are torn 10 pieces by
greedy managers; when the peace and war OF
neghboripg countries hang on the decisions OF spe-
culating monopolis,s; when The municipal, state
and general governments are becoming one
vast theatre of corruption, we may well deprc-
cate the accursed love Of gold for which the
world is madly bar'oring It's virtue. which is il-
fusipp itself into all business and monopolizing
every thoueht--wc deplore the prevalence of the
sensnous over the mental tastes and tendencies of
the day-wc lament over the weakness Of hum n
nature. which cannot endure prosperity.
To The initiated, the city of New York is Gu
rious spectacle. ii 1t were unroofcd, Asmcdeu
himself would lie astonished. In this capital
might he found most OF the sineularities Of oihec
citios--,be gaieiy and he freedom of Paris, AMI
it, unombarrassiug social arrangements the ant,
NAL pleasures and sturdy deep drinking of Lon
don. the intrigue and the stilettoes of Madrid
the solemn and bigoicd devotion Of Rome. the
rcentiousness OF Vienna, the falsehoods and fur
uvi'y of ST. Petersburg the harems aud the
beas,lness of Constantinople. the usury and the
extortions OF Jerusalem In its palmicst days.
And every day IL arrows larger aud Weather.