Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1865-11-17
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TIE RnSE.MATER RANGEET.


Sir Morton Peto Is at home again
poorer by thirty thousand dollars than
when he invited all upper-tendOm to
a banquet with him at DelmOnico's, but
doubtless richer in reflections. He knows
now that as much of glitter and luXuri-
/ ant display as ever made brilliant the
festive halls Of English lords and ladies
are at the call of golden shekels, even
in this new world Of ours. The metal Of
OphiT and the Tyrian purple Of eastern
T glory were not a whit more regal than
the diamond sparkle that starry night
at Delmonico's; and not old England
could with all her treasures present
such another spectacle. The memory
/ Of Sir Morton and his lavish Hberahty
viii linger down a whole legion Of
prineely feastings. The superb satin
wine-lists and the yet odorOus lilipuUan
tankards of Rimmel's rose-water, are pre-
served like sainted relics to peTpetuate
the hour Of extravaganza. The dainty
dish hereafter to be q "a Sir Norton the
song that weaves the legend into menu
Oric melody the fragrance of the sweet /
est flowers that bring from the perfumer
an exquisite reminder Of the vOlUptuOus
indulgence-are all prodigal with sugges=
tiOns of the gorgeous feast that came OF
lordly bounty. And who shall gainsay
it? Did not the pulpit send its most es-
teemed divines to wonder a the flash OF
beauty2 Were there NOT present to
do Justice to the delectable viands
Judges who have passed into the
shadow OF years Was ever table
enCircled by more knightly cour-
tiers or by fairer women Inspired
OF IuuniTleenJ courtesy, was ever feast
more cOmmendable2 lnlaid with words
of kindly cheer ard crowned with de
lightful harmony, with no sounds Of Uur-
bulence and no TeVel Of debaUch, who
would pretend 10 dispute it What ban
quoting han was ever hOnOred wit d no.
bier host, or ID more brilliant sssemblage,
or more enhancing round Of temperate
enjoyment Who would say that the
cup was to be thrust back-that the cha
I lice was poisoned-that II. was a death
dealing eiixir0f which the two hundred
and more guests PartoOk that night, IN
the glamour apd glitter OF the crystal
sparMe2
Alas for the record Of irreversible his
tory, can we hope that our own good re-
public Is entirely free from the hazards
which have ingulfed other nations2 If
not il may be wen to look about and
consider whittier we are drifting. When
men whose names have been suggestive
Of stalwart work in every department Of
enterprise become so etiemiHate as TO
gorge themselves in such extravagant
manner, and crown the indolent hOUrsof
Z self-gratulation and qualification by tip
ping the dew Of rose water upon their
precious fingers, it may not be out of
nlace to INQUIRE ifindeed an era of effem-
/ macy Is not already upon US, With all its
stupefactiOns and groSsness. Hence we
DO dispute the dinner at DelmonicO's. And
while We would send no word of croaking
/ across the water 70 the mUniticent host,
we would most earnestly depreeate such
demonstrations as this, which has made
a night, a millionaire, and a restaurant
famous. If Americans are TO drift upon
this style of display-if the old Roman
and Oriental banquetings are TO be re-
I vived, then are we nearer to certain de-
struction than we were at the darkest mo-
ment of civil war. ANtraVagant indui-
/ gcnce like this will enervate a people
like the breath Of terrible scourge. 1t
viii blast the truest life, and leave
senseless AMI irresolute nation. Moth
ing is more deplOrable than eftiminacy;
nothing more contagious than In
dolence. If many dinners Of the
character Of this Fifth Avenue gorman-
dizing are TO be given, it were better that
the names Of all DelmOnicOs were blot
ted out. In those elder days luxury and
ruin followed the Punic wars. 1t may be
that we, too, have been spared the test of
war to 20 down more jgnominiOusly by
our own wG-ste and aiiiuent indulgence.
Surely, not a few signs Of the times point
to such an alternative, The gates of
prodigal expenditure seem TO have been
lifted without restraint, and the song of
high carnival floats up from every quar-
Ter,
We cannot too earnestly urge thegreat
danger that row threatens us as anation.
There is not in all the record Of heather
history a record more efieminate than the
, rose-water banquet Of Sir Morton Peto
, The most influential and most esteemed
T in all the metropolis gave cOuntenanct
TO the reckless waste. Nor was it merely
t a throwing away Of money, but the alac.
5 rity with which respectable persons
E united in the enervaung indulgence, be
tokened a willingness 10 drift TO any ex.
tent upon the rocks Of prodigality anC
2 efemfnacy. If there is no voice TO cry
: against il, no hand TO stay it, no DISPOSE
E ton 10 resist il, tell Us who can, whittier
5 these things viii tend All history
E shouts aloud the answer. They leaC
: straight down 10 ruin and decay.