The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-10-25
SNOBBISH LIFE.

If there be not poetry, surely much truth, with
'pig and hominy common sense, Is found IN what
follows upon the above SUBJ ect:
"The country is running wild Extravaganza,
folly and fraud the prevailing vices Of the times
the grand characteristics Of the age. 1t is man
festy more or less in our cities and villages, and
its influence is seen in the Gebasemcnt OF men and
women and the complete ruin Of children. Every
successful 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 60
into the marble and satin, the rosewood and silver,
keep extravaeant carriages with horses to match,
and give parties where Brussels and Wilton outv:e
in their color the silks and the wine which make
up the chief pant Of the entertainment. Up goes
the new house, with all the decoration which
vulgar refined taste may suggest. Up it goes
into the air, huge pile or fantastic residence,
but not Il room in it for the comfort of the owner
or family-al of it for show and the public gaze.
The women faunt about in lace and azincss, or
reclne upon soft cushions i'll 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 the richest Of
their neighbors.
"For an American Of fortune-real solid fortune
to dash into all this extravaganza, is folly, but
that is guilty of downright wickedness who
upon little money goes to vast and foolish ex
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 the money to give them rea-
ty. Out Of this miserable life there spring evils
worse than bankruptcy. The sins of the father
visited upon the children to the third genera
tlon Of what use to society are the children of
such people? Sons who have been educated to
believe that all this splendor constitutes the best Of
md bot4 FIST III cha
blematic Of high life. Daughters brought up by
silly ridiculous mother, who gIOrics in her car
pets and curtains, her carriage and her parties,
and the fashionable training of her children.
"Nice creatures these for a life battle in world
where energy and industry and endurance are
worth to them than all the airs, graces and
style that they learned in the paternal drawing
OF foreign masters. Out Of this struggle to excel
in this SOFT of lite there spring, too, fraud and chi
canery 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 COM
munity laugh at this folly, and laugh loudly, too
at the vul garity paradng itsefn gay equip
ages, and moving about with all the airs and affec
tatiOns of snobbish high life-peope elevated above
their fellows by stock operation rise in town
lots, and rejoicing thereafter in fashy and in gau-
dy houses.
eff they made fools of themselves alone. it would
all be proper enough. But the effect upon their
families and upon society is most to be dreaded.
"In country where the law divides among
mans heirs all his estate after death, unless dis
posed of by WILL and when 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 expend the
same money in building schools or founding asy-
lums, the benefit of which the rich mans heirs may
need On, on goes our American life HeItcr-
SHELTER, hurly-burly-on it goes. Dash-make
sensaton-get money-honestly, if you can--get
money; but educate children after the same fash
ion, and then die and be forgottcn."-N y Nc,rs