Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-07-13
EXTRAYAGANCE.

EXTRAVAGANCE.
The pulpit aud the religious press are well
nigh dumb on this important topic, which
is every day demanding fresh and bold
treatment We are all asleep, while world
illness, in It's worst forms, is coming upon US
like food 1t is quite humiliating to find
the pulpit SO backward, and the religious
press uttering an uncertain sound, or no
sound at ALL and leaving the hardest blows
at fashion and frlvolity TO be stuck by the
secular press. Can it be shamed into bet
ter course, or is it so completely absorbed
with petty sectarian strifes that it has no
power to turn aside for an hour, and treat
questions of practical morality Among
few other secular journals, the Round
1db1e gives us an excellent example in
this respect, and one which we might all
well follow. 1t well says in its last issue
that 'craziness is abroad in the land.
Some mysterious spirit Of evil has led the
people into the blindest, widest lnfatua-
ton. The one great ruling passion has
become the thirst for money-money for
display and money for reckless eXcesses.
Men that once were counted reasonable and
sensible are carried along on the waves of
wild and foolish speculation, and women
that once were decorous, modest and woman
ly, have donned the most shameless fashions
and Haunt the most extraVagant ornaments.
The worst of all that France can offer, is
poured in upon US with no regard for either
decency or economy. At least one halfthe
people are living beyond their means. In
fact, the puUrol half seem tU mako tho
greatest display, and enter into the most
objectionable excesses. The blood of
the people is pulsing quite too fast for health
and safety. We are drifting sadly, terri
bly, away from the old landmarks, and from
every beacon of sense and security. What
madness has seized upon the people F? How
far are these things to carry US 2
These are questions that we may well ask.
Further on it says ''The real extravaganza
Of the people is doubtless but little known
The outer cloak of display which the multi
tude can see, is not a tithe ofthe real excess
es. Men that have but small incomes feel
that they must live within limits of style
and location which they know are beyond
their means. The fact is, the greater part
of the evil attaches to men of small means
We find fault with the wealthy for their
useless, wicked waste and unfortunate exam
pie but their mistake is not so great, nor
their conduct so blameable. as that of the
other and larger class who knowingly live
beyond their means. Herein is the su-
living in a quiet and careful way young men
rush to the cities and soon are seized with
the fever of money getting and display.
They are taught excesses and extrayagances
which tend well nigh to their ruin. They
drift with the tide and soon are living be-
yond their means all for show ard name.
EoebInnob blp Ntfan
them in their course, and instead of safe
and economical men, we have excited and
reckless spectators Fortune must be made
in some way, or the man considers himself
of little account. He has no time for the
development of his heart and health, no time
for public and benevolent enterprises. He
must maintain his place in society, go to a
given number of parties and live up to a
polite standard of expense and enjoyment,
Strange, passing strange As though a
young man could make his way faster by as
suming airs and position beyond his right
to claim.
In the course of the article, the editor
also lashes that class of women (you see
them in all the churches on Sunday who so
greedily accept the follies which the French
deni monde bring in, and declares, with all
women who should stand out as examples,
giving way to such disgraceful authorities,
It concludes as follows: "There is but enc
road to happiness and prosperity, for either
individuals or a nation, and that is economy
and faithful persistence in the legitimate
paths of business. The riches that come in
an hour, generally go in an hour, and do
more harm than good Hence we call upon
all pood neoDle to mite in AN effort tn Stay
the tide of wild excess. Let man be
frowned upon in society when it is known
that he is living beyond his means. Let all
noble and true women express their disgust
at the extravagant and indecent display of
the followers of fashion. And so shall the
nation be saved from the milestone that has
dragged other republics TO destruction so
shall our young men find larger and nobler
devotion than that of money and moilesty
and dignity shall not wholly desert American
womanhood. EpiscopdtiaR.
SLEEPING ALoNE--A capital story is