The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-09-03
A GROWING WOE.

The London Times in q recent issue de-
cants on the wanton extravaganza OF tn
women of England and the deplorable cond
ton of society to which such extravaganza ma
led. The subject is presented with all du
difference to the sex, and almost in tone o
! apology, as follows:
It must always be with pain and delicac
and hesitation that we make any allusion +
those who are supposed to be less able to de
fend themselves, and the more under jus
authority, as we'll, it must be added, as alst
the most sinned against But one remarl
must be made. Even on the most superficial
survey of society, whether in the great fur
mace of the metropolis or in the lesser fires o
provincial and rural life, who can shut hi
eyes to the lamentable fact that the gentle
and kindlier sex have a very great deal to dc
with that boundless and ruinous extravaganza
which introduces all the vices, and disablee
all the virtues, even to decay and extinction.
1t may be the necessity or the duty of some
to spend prncely fortunes in princely pomp
and luxury; if SO. they are only to be pitied
for the difficulty of doing it gracefully, and
redeeming material waste with personal re-
| fnement. But in this great town, and each
season more than the last, there are thousands
and thousands who are manifestly spending
far more than their circumstances will allow.
For very much of this deep, widespread and
still spreading evil the women are answerable.
| 1t is they who dress at rate far beyond their
income; they who insist on the best houses in
the best neighborhood; they who must have
equipages for all uses, times and places; they
who can not abate their manifold require
ments even when the family increases and
nobler cares should take the place of childish
things.
These remarks can have no application to
the women of this city or of Louisiana or of
any portion of our unfortunate Southland !;
yet there is something in them which the
thoughtful mothers, wives, sisters and daugh-
ters of the South may we'll and probably
heed. Even if extravaganza in dress is not
notable Southern vice, and even if Southern
women as rule respect the condition of their
country and of their families so far as to
avoid wasteful unjustifable or disproportion-
ate expenditure, yet they will do we'll to heed
such warnings as we quote and, while steel
ing their hearts against the proclivity to ex-
travagance, to teach those who are growing
into womanhood the moderation which is
most becoming to them.
1t is very certain that no people c,n pros
per as long as women waste aud SO uander the
profits, earnings, savings and capital of hus-
bands and fathers. Where the spirit of ex
travagance saturates the more favored classes,
the poison will percolate through all the
underlying strata Of society, and where the
whole state is SO poisoned, national strength
and proves cease to be possible. Frugality
in family brings contentment, competence,
satisfaction and security. Even SO the re-
public whose citizens are free from the vice
of luxurious extravaganza will grow in wealth
and strengthen in knowledge and moral ener-
gy. A nation grows to greatness by the same
means which cause the prosperity of the
families of which it is composed If all the
families Of nation employ common sense
and frugality in consuming or spending the
gains of assiduous labor, the nation must be-
come prosperous.
The wives and daughters Of those who can
earn money by the labor of their hands are
not inclined to be extravagant; they see and
know what toll it costs to get certain limited
sum of money each week, and they are not
often willing to add to the visible and we'll
kno wn hardships Of a life of labor. But the
wives and daughters of those who obtain
money as fees for professional services, as
profits on trade, as gains on speculation. or
as interest on capital, do not have realizing
sense of the nature of money, its value, or
the obligations which the ownership of it i'm
poses. They have it and they love the fathers
md husbands who give it to them. They
spend it in ornament and dress, and
are proud of those whose talents
have supplied them with the means Of an en-
oyment which they deem innocent. They
wear dresses, each of which would buy
small farm, but think they are doing
1othing wrong They display jewelry
enough to supply clothes, rations and school
ng to hundred children for year, but 90
lot seem to know that others must suffer in
order that they may shine. Nor IS this mere
or want of feeling; it is rather
The want of suitable and accurate education,
n which knowledge OF the value and source
Of money should be veay prominent item.
Spendhrift women are seldom alone to be |
blamed for their wanton waste of money. 1t
often happens that female ostentation is only
one of the forms in which the vanity of those
men who are attached to them by kinship or
m arriage, displays itself. In order to please
fathers, husbands and brothers. they are
obliged to seem gay and to be cladin fine attire.
Their keen m oral sense may teach them that |
such costly display is foolish and wicked, and |
their educated taste may teach them that the |
vagaries Of fashion which they are obliged to
obey are often intensely ridiculous and
thoroughly absurd, yet they must obey the !
mandates of love in spite of taste. reason, or
The vice has attracted the notice of the
pulpit as well as of the press, and is more
and more passing into the catalogue Of public
nuissnces.