The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-04
Social ExtraVagance.

If by any possibility some stranger from
distant planet, moved by purpose to study
our modes and methods of life. were suddenly
placed in the circle of our daily business and
social relations, we imagine it would require
a vast amount of explanation to make him
comprehend the fact that we are just emerg-
ing from the densest cloud of war that ever
brooded over a nation. He would scarcely
believe that for long dreary years malignant
hate between brethren of the same family
had made the streams of many quiet valley
run red with blood, and incarnadined the mar
row passes of our mountain ranges. He
would hardly suspect that at almost every
hearthstone throughout the length and
breadth oil the land there is at least one
vacant chair, and that every ceme-
terry holds the ashes OF those who fell
in the deadly conflict. Should he peruse
the reports Of the Secretary of the Treasury,
and discover the untold millions that have
been expended to save the national lite, and
secure permanent and substantial peace, he
would surely wonder from what "Aladdin's"
cave those vast stores Of wealth could have
DCGu duu luC udblOh NSI lOllillu
unexhausted and teeming with illimitable re-
sources. In fact, we are an enigma to our
selves. Accustomed to peaceful avocations,
pursuing the arts OF quiet lite, guiding the
plough in the glebe, setting into active and
incessant motion ten thousand looms and
shuttles, laying down the keels of great
leviathans that in feetness and capacity out
rival all the naval architecture of the ship
yards of the world; yet. when the tocsin OF
war sounded, the highways were thronged
with brawny and muscular yeomen, pushing
forward eagerly to smte with the avengers
rod the bold detiers OF rigbtful authority. We
are strong in peace and mighty in war.
All these merits, and more, we may Justly
claim but it is not, therefore, true that as
nation, any more than as individuals, we have
arrived at state of absolute perfection. There
is much in the everyday life around us that
cries aloud for remedy. Our unmeasured
success, our unparalleled growth, and our un-
exampled prosperity, have introduced into
our national character a recklessness and
dash which, unless curbed by prudence and
wise forecast, may act disastrously in the
future. We are IN danger of living too fast.
In fact many are guilty OF this indiscretion
already. The enormous fortunes which have
resulted from lucky speculations and the
necessities Of the Government arising out of
the war, have entirely changed the status of
many families and individuals. Sometimes
the fortunes thus suddenly obtained have
fallen into the hands of sagacious and
thrifty business men, who know how to use
their good fortune, not only to their own ad-
vantage, but to that of those around them.
In such cases, a nation is the gamer; but, in
the majority of cases, the vast accumulations
have fallen in charge of those unaccustomed
| by education or experience to understand the
responsibilities inseparably attaching to the
possession of unbounded wealth. To these
minds the first great duty of the millionaire is
to make an ostentatious and vulgar display
OF their accidental prosperity. They grow
ambitious to shine in circles which they were
never intended to adorn; they look down
| patronizingly upon the caste which they have
lett, but which they have not risen above I;
and become ridiculous, if not odious, by their
supercilious airs and insuferable insolence.
With plethoric bank account, they dream Of
honors flowing in upon them unbidden, and
claim for their money that respect and con-
sideration which is only given to actual
worth; they build costly mansions, and deco
rate them with tawdry gewgaws; they roll
along our streets in flashing equipages they
ape the worst features of foreign manners
their lives are without aim, except to excite
the remarks, and perhaps the envy, Of
those around them their wives and
daughters, lacking the education that fits
them for their affected style of life, mistake
display for gentility, and inspire in sober
minds feeling OF disgust, in lieu OF what
they hoped would be admiration. The most
lavish expenditure of means fails to secure
them entrance into what is really good So
ciety. They are consequently forced to form
cOteries of their own, in which the length o.
purse is the measure of respectablity. Society
founded upon such basis can never rise
above its own level 1t may glitter and cor
uscate, but it lacks the vital elements O
success.
1t is this style of life from which we, as
nation, have most to fear. There is nothing
in it calculated to elevate or improve ou
condition. Simple expenditure for the sak'
of ow has no merit. Pile all the diamond