Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-07-01
The nstng Gencrarion of lhe soulh.

'ess-s sz.s=,tzazna=-1 17ss
The Rising Generation of The South
When people are poor they are fool
ish to attempt to live as il they were
rich. The old and young, the males
and females, Of every family which has
the misfortune to be poor, ought TO bear
the burden together, and ought to work
together to increase the common store.
If there is but one working person in
the family, and he is generally the faith
er his nose will be kept at the grind
stone from one years end to another,
unless ne has a well ordered household.
The wife can greatly aid him by her
sympathy, by frugal management, 10y "A
cheerful temper, and by iustilling into
the young people lessons Of economy
and industry. 10 attempt TO live as
rich people do, when a family ispoor, is
not only sham and Il cheat, but it
makes The head Of such family hope
less slave and drudge, and absolutely
perpetuates the poverty SO seduously
sought to be concealed.
We are, with few exceptions, all poor
alike in the South Let us not be
ashamed OF it, and not commit the folly
Of increasing and continuing it by con
tempible SHIFTS TO hide it. # Is ~ evil,
but the way to conquer it IS to look it
in the face to 90 to work, and toprac-
tice economy. If all that IN over wolk-
ed father makes is consumed.in support
inc sons in idicuess and daughters in all
the extravaganza of fashionable dressing
and display, what earthly prospect will
there be OF an improvement in circum-
stances If the oyer-workcl head Of
the family lives under all his burdens, he
lives ~ see increasing hclplcsSness all
around him If he dies, a victim to his
heavy burdens. he leaves behind him
sons unframed to woIk-possibly Of cX-
pcnsiye il not di5sipated habits, and
daughters without any resources what
ever, and miserable because they cannot
continue to keep up the poor dclusion
that they are part and parcel Of the fash
ionablc world.
No situation in life can be more gall
inc than that Of 4 poor family striving
to hide poverty 10y aping the fashions.
| II the efforts made by its members to
keep up false show were but directed
to useful ends, the result would be most
/ propitious. As it j.. all they can do is
to keep their heads above water and b.
tolerated in the world of fashion. To
compas. this pitilul end they pass thro
purgatory. They sacrifice selt-rospect,
solid comfort and all the sacred duties
Of domestic life in order to get an TN.
certain and very humble position in that
society which is called fashionable
This is unworthy Of people who have
a spark Of intellect 1t will, il it DC
comes prevalent among us. be more di
sastrouS even than the war was. i
will fasten poverty upon u- for success
sive generations and make up a set Of
so-called cheats and hunbugs.
Ii thoughtless boys and giddy misse:
are allowed their way, they will ot
course, keep away from the tasks of If,
and seek only its pleasures. But they
ought not to be allowed to have then
way. They should be controlled. Th,
boys should be brought mp with the ide;
that life has it, serious duties and re
sponsibilities, and that chief among
them is the courage to work and tn.
girls should be taught that they ceas,
to be the ornaments of domestic lit;
when they sacrifice every thing to fash
ion and empty show.
Real gentility is something higher
and nobler than mere fashion anC
genteel poverty is far more respectabi,
than the vulgar snobbery that so many
weak minded and white blooded people
cultivate all their lives long.
II will be All evil day for Virgini.
when she become a prey to snobbery
The high repute in which she has 81
long been held was the result Of the sol
id virtues and the true refinement of be-
men and women. Mere fashion haC
nothing to do with it. Her position
will be any thing but a proud one wher
she has to point TO the puppets of fash
ion as her best claims to consideration
| -Richmond Whig.