Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-07-26
agricultural.
Too Nice.

We have all heard Of the story Of the fool
ish Midas, whose wish was that everything
he touched might be turned into gold, was
gratitied. lie soon repcnted, as we learn of
the fatal generosity Of the gods when the very
bread and meat changed ut his lips to the
precious metal. That Midas ears finally
grew into those Of an was the fit termina-
ton, and not tho most Incredible part Of his
history.
We can discover among some Of the
descendants Of Midas ;thOut even a look at
the ears Their asinine propensities are
enough to point them out, without any other
indication of their race We NAV pass by,
for the present, the more Characteristic OF
their kind and examine some of the less
marked specimens.
It is wonderful how people systematically
deprive themselves Of many of the enjoyments
and comforts Of life by turning things which
are intended for Use into mere articles OF
finery. There san be nothing more Midas
like tn this practice, which often prevails
to such an extent as to convert the utmost
abundance into total restitution. Labor is
performed and money scent without stint,
and yet with no other result than restricted
case and diminished comfort.
You can trace the practice everywhere.
throughout all the couls, OF d, ~ life 1t is
visible in the dwelling, tue furniture, the
books, the equpage, the clothes. Most peo-
pie, in our cities at least have bigger and
finer houses than they can well use, take
care of, or pay for and daily living in a
house without even feeling at home is Of all
wretchednes5 the most wretched. The fur
niture, moreover, IS often too nice for use,
the carpet too delicate to be trOd by the COM
mon boot, the chairs and sofas of too choice
a stuff for close proximity with the every day
coat and gown. The best room in the house
= Iii. l. ~ Z Il.
family, for every member regards it as he
might chamber of horror, into which he
does not put his foot without fear and trem-
bling. There is many a man who keeps a
carriage too fine for use, and breads every
time he rides in it the approach Of a shower
or a dirt-cart. At night he Is forced to sub
nit to the democratic street car or omnibus,
for darkness conceals and endangers the inery
of Is own equipage-
There are some who boast Of their libra
ries, and vet live themselves, and keep others,
IN ignorance, because their books are too
nice for use Their gilt edges and choice
bindings are only safe under glass. lock and
key so they remain sealed to the curious,
and might as we'll be so many dummies OF
wood, such Il IN fact, are occasionally found
filling up the vacant places Of the shelves il
bookcase of grand libraries.
There are a thousand ways in which the
clothes originally, without doubt, intended /
for comfort and protection are turn into /
sources of annoyance and danger. Obedience |
to fashion and a desire for show have meta |
morphosed the essential coverings of the body |
into so many corporal tortures. The hard |
bound beaver hat and chlgnon, the spider |
waist and tight-bOdIed coat, the punching
boot and high heeled shoe, are but few OF
the various instruments OF suffering which
men and women have cOntr we'd to make out
of the simplest articles of clothing Human
and civilized though such people pretend to
be, it is not difficult to discern through all
their articles of dress the asses ears Of the
Midas breed. Whatever might be useful
they turn by their touch into the snowy and
inconvenient.
Children even, in spite Of the earnest
supplications of nature, not spared this
absurd and cruel process of Transforming the
snowy. The desire for display is appar ent
and daily walks. Is the purpose of most of
the sO-caIled accomplishments Of the girls
school to produce useful or snowy women
Are the mIncing ways and tricks of behavior
so carefully inculcated intended to make
children genteel, as it is called, or aimabIc
Is the dress of kind or a make suitable for
freedom of movement, SO essential to the
healthy development of the young, or adapt-
ed only to he stiffness Of formal presentation
to company? Are the promenades Of the
starched and bedizened child for the promo
ton of its health, OF the qualification of
mother vanity and love of display? While
we commend to all propriety Of conduct and
delicacy of taste, we would warn them against
being TOO nice.-Harper's BG-Gr.