Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-09-09
Gclrftr0 1flistellanp.
SNOBBISH HIGH LIFE.

SNOBBISH HIGH LIFE.
The country is running wild. Extra
vagance, folly, and fraud are the great
prevailing vices Of the times-the grand
characteristic of the age. 1t is mani
testify more or less in our cities and vii
lagos, and its influence is seen in the
debasement of men and women, and the
complete ruin of children. Every sue
cessful Spectator or fortunate operator
must initiate, and if possible excel, his
neighbor, the lucky banker or the money
making grocer; and to do this, without
regard to expense, away they go into the
marble and satin, the rosewood and silver,
keep extravagant carriages with horses to
match, and give parties where Brussels
and Wilton outvie in their color the silks
and the wine which make up the chief
part of the entertainment. Up goes the
new house, with all the decoration which
vulgar or refined taste may suggest
Up it goes into the air, huge pile, or a
fantastic residence, but not room in it
for the comfort of the owner or family
all of it for show and the public gaze.
The women haunt about in lace and !azi-
ness, or recline upon soft cushions in fine
carriages, neither knowing whether the
money that keeps them up be stolen or
honestly gained. They are happy in the
fact that they dash as much as the rich
est of their neighbors.
For an American Of fortune-re
solid fortune-to dash into all this ex-
travagance, is folly; but that man is
guilty of downright wickedness who,
upon little money, goes to vast and
foolish expense: for he must rob some
body to carry out his plans; or if he has
enough to warrant it all, his children,
when his fortune is divided among them,
will have all the silly and extravagant
notions of their father without his money
to give them reality Out of all this
miserable life there spring evils worse
than bankruptcy. The sins of the father
are visited upon the children to the third
generation. OF what use to society are
the children of such people? Sons who
have been taught to believe that all this
splendor constitutes the best of life, and
fast horses and champagne are emblematic
Of high life Daughters brought up by a
silly, ridiculous mother, who glories in
her carpets and curtains, her carriage
and her parties, and the fashionable
training of her children.
Nice creatures, these, for life battle
in world where energy and industry
and endurance are worth to them more
than all the airs, graces, and style that
they learned in the parental drawing of
foreign masters. Out of this struggle
to excel in this sort of life there spring,
too, fraud and cliicanery, and all manner
of crime; for in the contest, gold, gold,
is the end and aim Of all-the means are
not regarded. The sensible part of the
community laugh at this folly, and laugh
loudly, too, at coarse yulgarity parading
itself in gay equipaces, and moving about
with all the airs and Alterations Of snob-
bish high life--people elevated above
their fellows by stock operation or a
rise in town lots, and rejoicing thereafter
in Aashy and in gaudy houses.
If they made fools of themselves alone,
it would all be proper enough. But the
effect upon their families and upon socie-
ty is most to be dreaded.
In a country where the law divides
among a mans heirs oil his estate after
death, unless disposed of by will, and
where the chances are that the property
will not remain in the family beyond the
second generation, it is utter folly to
build palaces to live in; far better would
it be to cxpcnd the same money in build
ing schools or founding asylums, the
benefit Of which the rich mans heirs may
need. On, on, goes our American life
Helter-skclter- hurry burly it goes
Dash--make a scnsation--gct money
honestly if you can-but get money
educate children after the same fashion,
and then DIE, and be forgotten Mem
phis AUalanche.
PRoPoRTIoNs or THE HUMAN FIGURE. |
The proportions of the human figure are
strictly mathematical. The whole figure
is six times the length Of the foot
Whether the form be slender or plump,
this rule holds good. Any deviation from