The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-03-09
A virtue Needed in America.

We Americans are the most waste.
ful and extravagant people in the
world. We waste fearfully in food, in
clothing, and in extras. We waste on
every secular day Of tlfe week, and
waste double amount on Sunday.
Men waste shamefuIly, women shock
ingly; boys and girls, too, are permit
ted to waste wofully. Wastefulncss is
one of our worst national vices for if
economy be o virtue then extrava-
gance must be vice. The English
don't waste half as much as we do; the
French not quarter, and tho Ger.
mans, (whlle in Germany don't waste
at all
Hundreds Of leading hotels here and
throughout the country prepare daily
from twenty to fifty dishes for dinner,
and out ofthese from halt to tw0.thirds
arc regularly wasted. Thus not only
is food wasted but labor at the same
time. In ordinary iamilics unwhoe.
some meals Of half dozen dishes are
gotten up, where a plain meal would
ut once be more economical and whole
some. We gorge ourselves with great
numbers of articles, which are neither
nutricious or delicious, but simply cost
~ Men buy four hats year, where
one ought to last them four years
They throw away coats and pants
when they are but little worse for
wear; and instead ofhaving their shirts
mended. and stockings darned, they
purchase new ones and fling away the
old. Women wear very expensive ar
ticlcs Of dress without wearing them
out; and, we have heard, are inclined
to spend and waste money and mate
rial without stint.
The present is the most excellent
time Tor the whole people to begin 10
learn and practice the virtues of econ
omy. If those men who are striking
for higher wages because of the high
price Of living, would instead Of this,
waste less in their homes. their cloth
ing and their sundries, it would be
much better for themselves and for the
country. If dealers would live less
eXtravagantly, and waste less, they
could sell more cheaply. If rich men
would squandcr less on their tables
their tailors. .thcirwine merchants, their
fast horses, big houses aod fancy fix.
ings, they would set better example
would enjoy better health, and be more
able to help their country. If the iair
. sex would pay some attention to this
matter-and we refer not mere y to the
wealthy classes, but to those in the
common walks Of life-they would be
thrice blessed themselves and would
confer blessings on the bearded sex.
Among the mercantile, mechanic
agricultural and working classes Of
Germany, the same garment will not
only be worn for one season or one
year, but half Il lifetime or more, and
yet they will be no less comfortably
clad than our people, who wear out 4
hundred suits of expensive clothing
during their brief existence. In Dea
hau. the untcrrock of the women vii
often be handed down and worn fol
three generations-which is fact that
might profitabiy be pondered BY thC
daughters of America. They are &c
less economical in articles Of food on
the European continent A witty
Frenchman asks the question why pork
is always SO dear in Paris, and himsel
answers tho inquiry by saying it is be
cause they can I raise swine in France
for the people themselves consume al
the garbage. There is hardly enough
truth in this to point the joke; but tht
fact is that the nice and economica
habits of tho French, in matters O
diet, prevents the vast acoumulation'
of refuse which are seen in some othel
countries.
Our habits of waste astonish all for
eigncrs. Waste enough in this coun
try, of food and clothing in one year
E to sustain the whole population for five
The times arc hard. The currency il
dcranged. We know not what lies il
the future. The whole country shouIC
begin to learn habits of economy AnG
it is virtue, which, fit is ever to be
come national, should at once be bogul
10 be practiced by individuals.