Smyrna times., 1869-06-02
Appearing Rich.


can women, for whom we have the prediction
natural to one of their own country, and be-
lleve to be the best looking and not the worst
behaved Of their sex, we feel constrained to
note their defects when we can detect them |
and thus at this moment, recognizing, as we
think, prevailing fault, we proceed to pillo
ry it.
The desire to make a good appearance is |
more especially an American characteristic
This Is not essentially bad quality, but, on
the contrary, Is, when kept in due subOrdina-
ton, and justified by possession of the reality
OF which the form is assumed, useful if not
the highest motive of conduct. After the
first great impulse to work-the necessity of
supplying the natural wants of food and shelter
the next most powerful incentive to industry
among the mass of mankind is the desire of
making good appearance. There is great
deal OF hard labor performed for no other rea-
son than to secure a suit of Sunday clothes
and much of this country's enrichment may
be justly traced to the ambition of Patrick to
have a whole coat to his back, and of Bridget
| to rustic in silk, once weak at least
The desire OF appearing we'll in the eyes of
our nelghbors, wearing fine clothes, living in
fine houses, and being otherwise able to make
the demonstration of prosperity essential to
social recognition, is doubtless one Of the chief
| inducements to work.
! This eagerness to vindicate our claims to
success by outward manifestations while it has
its good, has also a bad side. 1t becomes often
impatient of the naturally slow means by
which the real is alone attainable, and induces
a resort to the speciOus. We thus have the
shadow instead OF the substance, and life be-
comes "h"n+"Sm of Shams and deceits. There
is nothing more tatai &c. c3r@or and honesty,
without which there can neither be guUl taste
nor sound morals. All the dcformities of what
VIC term art, our emblazoned canvas, tOyish
statuary, and unreal architecture, with its
make believe cOrnices of tin and columns OF
wood, arc thG visible results. The effect upon
manners and character is very much the same
For substantial hospitality, which is necessarily
private virtue, there is substituted the pub,
licity Of snowy banquets and parties; and mer
and women seek no longer the intimate appre
ciatlOn of few friends by the practice of sOliC
virtues but the superficial notice of the crowC
by display Of oStentatious qualities.
1t has been said that an American neve
| gives as a reason for not doing a thing that h
cannot afford it. This would imply that ou
c0untrymen and countrywOmcn always striv,
to appear richer than they are. Such denun
clatiOn is too sweeping to be true; but there i
no doubt that We are not only less often com
, PEELED to resort to economy, but also more in
disposed to acknowledge it when we are thai
S most other people. This fondness for appear
ing rich is the natural result of American aspi
: ration. We must, in this country, either hav
or supposed to have success, and thus, whe
i we have not the reality. we strive to concet
the fact by display Of its symbols.
d 1t may be doubted whether absolute want
S so common a cause of female ruin in olde
It countries, is often so in this fortunate land {
4 abundance. The desire of show, which anon
n women takes the direction OF display in person
:, al apparel, is believed to be the most frequer
q impelling motive in the United States Of the
I, degradation. 1t is not that they may be con
d fortably clad, but that they may be richl
e dressed, that these creatures intoxicated b
n vanity, enslave themselves to vice.
;, Believing it to be the fruitful cause of muc
d of the prevailing perversity of taste and co
: ruptiOn of morals, and moreover, emphatica
l. ly an American defect we denounce the desil
G of those who are not so Of appearing rich.
t. Haper'S Bazar.