Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-12-02
Miscellany.
Extravaganza.

4 fashionable wedding, now -a-days,
is n very expensive and extravagant
affair. Perhaps it is no ones business
outside of the family circles of the con-
tracing parties and their friends, and,
if those who desire to celebrate such a
matrimonial alliance, can afford the
luxury OF one ofthese entertainments,
it is all we'll enough, so far as they are
concerned. Bnt such matrimonial
shows and ostentatious displays are
hardly in keeping with the simplicity of
the American idea of republican govern
ment, and they oftentimes place bur-
dens, though self-imposed, upon invited
guests, which these can i'll afforI to
bear. There must be expensive toilets
and expensive presents. True, these
are sometimes hired for the occasion,
but no one, of course, except a shoddy-
ite or a miser would resort to such a
disreputaDle trick.
The beauty and significance of the
custom of making wedding gifts is
acknowledged everywhere among en-
lightened people. The money value of
the article is a secondary consideration
when the gift is bestowed from proper
motives but in the brilliant displays
which accompany the modern fashion
able wedding, the motive seems to be
rather desire on the part of the giver
to achieve notoriety. Thus the tender
expression of love and esteem Is sup
planted 10y the uumistakable presence
OF selfish aud ignoble passion.
Now one of the causes for this cOndi-
tiOns of things-this false idea which
prevails in society-conslsts IN the de-
sire among people OF wealth (or of re-
puted wealth, at least) to ape the cus-
toms of aristOcratic circles IN Europe.
Among no class on this side of the
Atlantic is this desire so manifest as
with those who are called the .'vulgar
rich" the shoddy aristocracy. Oslen-
tatious weddings among really refined
people, in this country, are quite rare.
Indeed, the glare and glitter of sUmp-
tuous affairs, where the most prominent
features are eXtravagantly dressed
women, q brides rousseau worth a
kings ransom, wedding gifts repre-
sen:ing, singly, thousands of dollars,
menu, and lastly, score of Jenkinses
TO air, in print, the whole affair, espec-
tally the elaborate and costly toilets OF
the ladies these are things from which
men and women of culture and true re-
finement instinctively shrink.
Is it strange that young men-sen-
sible, cool-beaded young men, who
have their way to make in the world
stand sghast at the thought of matri-
monial alliance? They know that their
incomes are utterly inadequate to sup
port the STYLE which fashionably edu-
Gated young lady expects, or, at least
desires to maintain. is it to be won
dered at, that bankruptcy and crime
among business men are so prevalent
The evil from this unnatural, and IN
wise condition of society, is two-fold to
young men. Ii they marry, the desire
to maintain a certain social position
subjects them to temptations which
many have not the moral courage to
resist, and hence they fail, making ship
wreck of their lives, and covering their
friends with shame.
On the other hand, in living single,
the allurements and temptations which
beset young men are hurrying thousands
every year into dissipation and vice, and
whitening them mentally, morally, and
physically. The incentives to useful
ness and solid happiness are destroyed
by the prevailing folly of the day. 1t
is time. as another remarks, for fathers
and mothers to know that the extrava-
gance they encourage, is destructive to
the virtue of their children, and that
all foolish expenditures are, instead OF
answering that end, tending to destroy
the institution of marriage altogether.