Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-01-30
Prosperity North, Adversity South.

The North is prosperous, more prosperous, it
is said, than it ever was before Petroleum,
war contracts, the market afforded during the
war for it's manufactures, and the products OF
the soil, all conspired to increase its wealth.
Its canals, railroads, and all other works Of in
ternal improvement are IN perfect order. The
domestic establishments, the equlpages, the
dress and appointments of the people are all on
a scale of elegance hitherto unknown. The ho-
tells, restaurants, saloons, theatres, indeed all
places of accommodation and amusement, are.
luxurious and attractive to an extent that IS sur
prlslng. Many of both sexes are tempted from
the palmer pleasures of home to the countless
places Of amusement-some innocent, some
guilty-with which the Northern cities are filled.
The report Of the Board of Police for New York
city shows that the saloons alone Of that city
muster nearly two-regiments of handsome wait
er-girs, numbering twelve hundred equipped
with all the meretricious charms and bandish-
ments that women of that class know so well
how to make effective. The total number Of
these saloons is 223, the number of visitors per
day is set down at 80 $50, and the receipts per
week at $3l, ,562. This is but one item of lux
ury and extravaganza in one Of the Northern
cities. The police report informs us that the
number OF these daughters of perdition is rap
idly increasing - that their dupes and victims
are counted by thousands, and are men who
move in the best, most cultivated and highest
circles of society" These twelve hundred
daughters of perdition" are women who have
not quite lost all shame. The numerous dens
of iniquity, where all shame and modesty are
thrown aside, ambitiously attempt to supply
their place by all the glittering attractions of
luxury and magni6cence.
This luxury and extravaganza prevail through
out the whole North. How different the pic
/ ture presented by the South!
The South is badly Of, worse off by far than
it ever was, or we trust than it ever will be
again. 1t lost all it owned but It's lands and
houses many persons lost these. Its cur
rency and securities, in which all its people
were interested, ::perished in an hour It's horses,
! cattle and poultry even We're destroyed Its
farms were in many localities as effectualiy des-
I olated as if an army of locusts had devoured
them. Its negroes, to the value of two thou
sand millions Of dollars, were set Free It's rail-
roads and other public works were broken up.
The elegant equipages that were seen before tho
war are no longer seen. The few that remain
belong to strangers who have come among US,
Or to fancy men to whom fine turn out is a
sort of sign or advertisement. There is no dis
I play of dress and no gttempt to follow the fash
1 ions Dwelling houses look old and dilapida-
ted The furniture is defaced and broken
The places Of amusement are for the most part
closed, and the hotels are plain, modest and un-
pretending. There are fortunately no magnii-
cent saloons, no pretty waiter girls to allure
! young men to their ruin. There are drinking
shops, and an abundance of them-but they do
not resort to such auxiliaries to make them at
tractive. There is no extravaganza, no attempt
at display, The people are poor and have the
good sense to practice rigid economy. Poor
as they are, there are those who would make
them poorer. There are men who desire to
1 take from them the little they have left-their
lands and houses, the horses and farming uten-
sils they have been able to get together, and
divide them among the freedmen. There are
men, and thousands Of them who covet these
lands for themselves, and who would rejoice if
the Government would pursue policy so rigo-
rous and oppressive as to force the land owners
to sell their lands SO that they Might purchase
them for little or nothing.
Our vices are not the vices generated by az
/ inflated prosperity. They are those developed
by deprivation and poverty We are now learn
ing those lessons taught in the severe school of
afficton and it will, perhaps, be all the better
for US, in the end, that we have had SO rough
beginning. Economy, frugality, industry, pune
tuahty and morality are at present forced upon
Us by the necessities of four situation. We hope
that they will become the habits and the gov
erning principles of our lives, so that should We
once more beblessed with prosperity-and these
are the means By which it is attained-we will
know how to enjoy, without abusing it.-Rich.
sIht1