Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-06
VOLUME XXXIII.
THE CURSE OF THE NATION.


4 strange crazincss is abroad in the land.
| Some mysterious spirit of evil has led the
people into the blindest, widest inlatuation.
The one great ruling passion has become the
thirst for money-moncy for display and
money for reckless excesses. Men that once
were counted reasonable and sensible are
carried along on the waves of wild and fool
ish speculation, and women that once were
decorous, modest, and wOmanly have donned
the most shameless fashions and faunt the
most extravagant ornaments. The worst
of all that France can offer is poured in upon
us with no regard for either decency or econ
omy. At least one half the people are living
bevond their means. In fact, the poorer
half seem 10 make the greatest display and
enter into the most objectionable excesses.
The blood OF the people is pulslng quite too
fast for health and safely. We are drifting
sadly, terribly away from the old landmarks
and from every beacan Of sense and security.
What madness has seized upon the people?
How far are these things to carry US?
1t is the natural tendency Of republican
government TO produce extravaganza When
one man of poverty is held as great as his
neighbOr of abundant riches, the poorer man
is tempted to make as great a display as he
who can afford it. Young men are carried
away with the mania and make fools, not
scamps, Of themselves. Acquiring fortune
by the old and legitimate ways is quite too
slow The more honorable callings and
professions are deserted for the more expe-
ditious roads to fortune. And so the nation
is cursed with a race of crazy moneyEetters
instead of noble minded men, who are con-
tent to work and live as common sense and
the claims Of good citizenship urge that
man should live. The dignity and refine
ment of womanhood is also to sadly sacri-
feed, and extravaganza becomes the curse
the burning curse-of the nation.
The real extent of the extravaganza Of the
people is doubtless but little known. That
outer cloak display which the multitude
can see is not 1.-THE Of the real excesses,
Men that have but small incomes feel that
they must live within limits Of style and
location which they know is 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 example, but
their mistake is not so great nor their con-
duct so blameable as that of the other and
larger class who knowingly live beyond
their means Herein is the supreme folly
of the hour. Not content with living in a
quiet and careful way, young men rush to
the cities and soon are seized with the fever
for money-getting and display. They are
taught excesses and extravagances which |
tend well nigh to their ruin.
They drift with the tide, and soon are
living beyond their means, all for show and
name. Fashionable women too often en-
courage them in their course, and instead of
safe and economical men we have excited |
4 a.
made in some way, or the man considers |
himselfof little account. He has no time |
for the development ofhis heart and head, !
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 enjoy !
ment. Strange passing strange As though !
a Young man could make his way faster by
assuming airs and position beyond his right |
to claim.
We have no heart to dwell upon the indie
cencies which French demj-monde fashion
has been thrusting upon Us. 1t is shame
TO every respectable woman in the land that
the customs of French prostitutes should be
foisted upon our people by French milliners.
The extravaganza and shamelessness of too |
many ofthe women is astounding. Once,
young women were the inspirer2 of economy
and provident care, and young men could
hope to have homes, by due diligence, be-
fore the best part of their lives was thrown
away in the wear and tear of business Now
matrmony is almost out of the question ex-
cept one Of the parties is very wealthy, or
both are content to be very poor. This is |
one of the most unfortunate results of the |
shameless, cruel extravaganza of the times,
and an evil which is likely to prove bitter
curse to the country.
There is but one 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 good people to unite
in an effort to stay the tide of wild excess.
Let a man be frowncd upon in society when
it is known that he is living beyond his
means. Let all noble and true women ex-
press 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
a larger and nobler devotion than that of
money, aud modesty and dignity shall not
wholly desert American womanhood.