The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-09-02
Grnuinr Retlnement IL the We 81.


From the N. Y. Tipcs.C
The social and external changes which
have taken place In, the West during the
INST ten years present marked and inter
estiug features. The great natural advan-
tages of that region, with the enormous
energy Of lis selected" population, have
had their effects In vast increase OF
wealth, and though this wealth is better
distributed there than anywhere else In
the world, yet dnalyit has begun to nc
cumulate in certain ranks and sets, and to
show the usual results Of accumulation.
Taste and elegance manifest themselves
everywhere, rs they never did before. The
average villa or small town house in the
West Is superior to that Of New York or
New England in design, In color, and in
finish. 4 simple and appropriate style OF
architecture, and tasteful selection OF
colo.s, distinguish these Western houses;
even the building in remote and Out.ot-
the.way villages arc often marked
by picturesque and pleasing style
With this eli gance Of finish in the houses
las arisen remarkable care for their
surrounlings-lo the gardens aud lawns
which form 80 necessary an element Of q
tasteful home. The famous Bellevue ave-
nue Of Newport Is not finer than Euclid
avenue IN Cleveland. Each residence
there shows its green lawn, carefully roll
ed and closely mOwn; and each It's we'll
tended (lower-garden. When the cOstli-
ness Of maintaining these luxurics In such
a climate as ours Is considered, some idea
NAV be gained of the wealth accumulated
ON that one avenue. Evidently the idea
has penetrated the Western mind that one
Ol the rewards Of lilo is to have beauti'
full home. An abundance OF water, be-
sides its sanitary value, naturally taVors
all efforts at Identifying the grounds, and
Western towns show remarkable spirit
and liberality in erecting ingenious and
costly machinery for raising water from
lhelSkes or rivers On the borders OF which
they arc situated. A village like Port
Huron has its Water.works; and Duluth,
only five years old, Is already considering
plans for public water supply.
Turning to the Interior aspect oil the
towns, we find that much has changed
there also. There Is more individuality,
more Of the owner and less Of the uphOl'
slerCr In them; more marks OF culture
aud personal taste. But here comes In
the difficulty Of a new country indeed,
Ol every country now-the old trouble Of
servants. The househOlders can only
console themselves by the thought that
their troubles arc the measure OF the pros.
peIity of the Western working classes.
ArOiher evidence OF advancing wealth
eud culture is noticeable in tho great
change Of style Of dress Of Western wo'
men. There was time when Western
Young ladies, while travelling, wore their
most gorgeous array, Ind In q country
inn displayed a. dazzling toilet. a tasteful
and appropriate style OF dressing-exact-
iy uuiied Tor the thing to DO done, and yel
pretty and pleasing-has succeeded the
former vulgsrity. The fashion Is O!te1
better than in some of our Eastern re-
sorts, where one isOI(en diVgusted by tht
shabby mixture Of the mountain and par
Tor in the dress Of the visitors. In tht
Western rural inns or mountain houses
there often seems no effort except to haVC
apiaIn and pretty travelling costume, worr
with tho uneQualed grace Of our country
women, II Is not too bold state
mept 10 assert that physical type has ais
changed and improved with the progress
OF aesthetic culture and the material re
hnements Of life. Western women hav
developed a peculiar type Of beauIy-th
features, clean.cut aquilinc nose, small
refined mouth and chin, delicate com
pleXiOn, clear, calm eyes, Iorehead Tegt
lar and full, hair most often brown IN
seldom long or full This seems the Tyr
which, under the conditions niO1uoRe'
themIxture Of races, combined with o.
stimulating climate, is producing, TIL
manners OF the girls arc sufficiently moI
est and pleasing, Naturally, wester
women arc more cultured than the me-
The latter have had the heavy work {
lie too much for any thorough mentl
culture The impression, however,
taking rapid hold Of tho western min
that quite enough has been sacrificed
real prosperity, and that many IhlugS a
worth devoted nuFSult which bring