Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-12-18

IA
We are living in a fast age, as well
,as an eventtul age We ale liviDgin
fan extrsvagant aye, as well as All age
of progress. We are living in an age
Of FOLEY as well as in an age OF reform;
and men without judgment and reason
are more plenty than sages. Every
day brings us the unwelconie inteill-
gence OF some great robbery, mai
feasance or defalcation in which persons
of influence, and supposed respectable
f,y, are painfully and seriously involved
And if We only take into close and
candid consideration the causes ofthese
,d,plorable effects: if We will go down
deep, beneath the surface OF common
things, we will find that these crimes
and misdelntanors are as much the
fault of the aye, as they are OF the III
.diyidual. and that public sentiment is
as much to blame tor their frequent re-
currence, as private covetousncss anu
selishness. ....., g U.s.,
There is IN almost er ry human ma
tire ALI innate desire to keep up a show
of good appearances. Business men
of high moral and social standing are
compelled in many instances, when on
the very verge OF bankruptcy, ty this
unfortunate and perverted public senti-
,nent, to 90 on rccklessly III their
career of extravaganza and folly, and to
-keep up costly display instead OF
.lessening their living expen ses' ana
striving to do something to satisfy t"e'r
creditors, or to provide for themselves
when the impending crises comes
Men holding high and responsible
public Offices, bled by horde OF para
sites to whom they are principally III
debted for their ex;.tation, in Their
foolish endeavors TO keep up an eslaD-
l;.bment that shall seem worthy ol
their high and important positions
,amper with the public funds IN the'r
keeping, and sell their integrity ana
honor to hungry and unprlnclpled cor
pora,ions and individuals
Young men who nave been reared
under Christian Influences, who hold
responsible positions OF a meagre 'aia-
nv, are impelled by the same Influence
to live beyond their means; and 'na'
they may go in the best society or IN
1nlce IN fashionable vices, that are
painfully common, they are often
;u]uced to embezzle the funds OF their
employers, or resort to other ways OF
ob,aipinc the means Of satisfying their
desires that are equally deplorabie.
Young and beautiful girls, well BRED
educated and accomplished, who are IN
every way capable OF living a noble
and exalted womanhood are led astray
bv this same pitiabie public sentiment
The more iuexorable the demands OF
fashion are, the more desperate are the
means to which woman VIII resort
to crafty her passion for dress, Inc
love Of fashionable hpery, and the rim
If reckless extravaganza ir this regard
s.nd. thousands of beautiful women TO
ruin annually.
For all of this disgrace, exposure
and intamy, we solemly affirm 'ha'
npbl;c sentiment is as responsible as the
individual. A state of society that
encourages habits of reckless eS'rava-
pance, high and riotous living cosby
.n1 ;o,uoral amusemcnts, is the direct
.ause of the greater part OF the crimes
and misdemeanors that occur Feopie
freouent costly watering places III the
.ummer months b. cause il is fashionable
They build costly houses that are ut for
kingly places, because 1t is iaSnl0naol.'
,bov drive fast horses and drink costly
liquors because it is fashionable ana
the poorer classes initiate the wealthy
"a, o,aerto he considered fashionable.
From this deplor lble condition OF socie-
", ~ ,ba crime. humiliation and
sho,,e ,f thousands that, were 1t not
f,r the unfortunate pablo sentiment
that impeals them to their folly would
h. industrious, honest, tirtuous and hap
ypy. Dos n.L.-- - ------- .l
r my In town, one evening last week,
no called to see his darling and was
nsbered into the parlor where the fol
lowing conversation happened; "Do
Won like candy sonny asked The
Young man who was at the moment
sitting on a sofa by the side OF sonnys
sister. "Bet you il it's nice and striped
like sisters stockings "Oh, brother
s.re.n,ed the sister, hiding her bluShlng
face. "You just oft to see EN-. They
make her legs look just like sticks OF
peppermint candy" continued sonny
warming in his fancy, until his sister
caught him by the ear anu mop Seo''i
Cd him out Of the room.