Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-03

10 There are many great social evils in
this our day, and it may be difficult to say
which is the greatest. But we are entirely
safe in saying that one of them is Ertrdrdgdnce.
There never was an age when economy was so
little cared for as at present; and it may be
doubted if ever there were people so prone to
neglectit as the Americans. We are an enter
prising people; we are an industrious nation
but we scatter with lavish hand. The for
tunes that are built up by one generation, are
distributed by the second and the grandsons,
if not the sons, of wealthy men as often as 9TH
erwise become beggars and the objects of char
ity.
This extravaganza is not peculiar TO any one
class in society it eharacterizes and pervades
all. The degree is controlled by circumstances.
The rich man is extravagant with dollars, and
the poor man with dimes.
Now, we despise that smallness which may
be called niggardly and that stinginess which
is mean /; but we equally abhor that wasteful-
ness that is without reason, and which is daily
exhibited before everybody's eyes.
One of the most striking features of the
times is the universally of what "old folks"
used to call Injuries People in the common
walks of life are not satisfied with the homely
comforts. They must live in as elegant houses
as their wealthy neighbors, wear as fine clothes,
and dine on as dainty fare. The rich, in their
turn, must build palaces, and support equi-
pages that kings might envy.
The progress of comforts and luxuries keeps
pace with civilization, and when they are legit-
imately and honestly INDUCED in, none have
reason to complain. But Extravaganza is the
squanderihg of not only our own property, but
that of others. How many men have failed in
business and cheated hosts of honest creditors,
whose failure may be traced directly to extrav-
agant habits How many of those who live
a luxurious life, do so at the expense of the
community! And oftentimes-with regret we
say tia man who aims to "make both ends
meet" and labors hard to effect it, is prevented
by wife whose love of dress and parade is
her strongest characteristic.
As an illustration OF our subject, we will
suppose young couple, in the common walks
of life, just married. Impelled by the extrav-
agant notions of the age, they are not content
to begin life in the humble way which their
circumstances demand. They must have
house as large and furniture as costly as those
of their parents, wholly forgetful of the many
years of patient toll that have been necessary
to secure them. The general result is, the
husband is soon hampered with debt; his fine
house becomes as intoerable as a prison. and
his wife's dreams of happiness are suddenly
interrupted by the knocks of the Sheriff at the
door.
Tailors and milliners may not like to ac-
knowledge the fact, but we affirm that extrav-
agance in dress is not the least of our present
evils He is a brave man who now wears a
threadbare coat or pair of patched trowsers
while the lady who wears bonnet, the fashion
of which has three months gone by, is deemed
either simpleton or a fit candidate for lu-
matte asylum.
Thus extravaganza destroys those homely
virtues which are really the foundation of
mans truest happiness. 1t undermines his
dependence, it makes him poor, it renders him
miserable. The wastings of every man are
curse to society, while his savings are diff
fusive blessing. Then let us be frugal.