The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1878-10-23

harsh opnressiye measures Of prodn-
Gers and capitalists. We have no
desire whaisoeyerto extenuatein the
least the climinallty and selfish
wiekedness 81 our Legislators through
whose yenalisy the moneyOd inter
ests Of the commonwealth was di.
yerted from rs natural channels and
brought under the exacting control
of afew Pluterats; nor are we blind
to the grinding spirit Of usury which
gives tone and shape to almost every
relation existing between the speeu.
lating employer and the reluctant
employee After making due &C,
count 9f all these causes of political
commdion, and even more than due
account Of them, there remains an
other agent of misery no less potent
and uhiouitons. Everywhere theob-
seryantleve beholds the crude grim
ace andIbizarre antics of vulgar emu
lation.
Without ever once considering
their mean the poor endeayor to
follow the rich in every fashionable
folly and inawkish whims. Expen'
siye LUXURY aud costly frivolity in
the opuleht class form not the least
commendable of political virtues
By them the superhuous wealth OF
the county finds its way back to the
world Of industry and thrift. But
an imitation of such extravagant
vanity among the poor is both de-
structive Of all domestic happiness
and the prolific source of crime and
immortality. The several communi-
ties are marching along the highway
of life en- masse owing to this insane
passion that has seized the entire
populace. Real refinement and ele-
gance Of manners is nowhere among
US the prevailing characteristic
Tawdry tinsel covering hollow pre-.
tension Constitute the best fruits Of
our Landed civilization. On every
side there is 'make,believe' and
sham One straining every nerve
of moral probity and social convent
ence TO Keep up appearances; anoth-
err perspifing vigorously at the up
hill work Of getting into society;
still Others wasting away the prec.
ious hours Of life, and, what is more
rerretable. both physical health
mental purity in the. vain attempt
of acquiring the sickly, unwhole.
some and repulsive hue of the 'cul-
tured.' Manhood and womanhood-
the richest treasures on earth-are
thus lost or mutilated and debased to
a frightful extent. 1t is a terrible
sacrifice to make for q mere SembIdacC
that is all false and unreal.
Many a thrifty ard-workingman
has to lament year after year the
wasteful extravaganza Of his family.
The product of his labor disappears
like the morning mist. The money,
to gain which he gave forth in hot
streams Of sweat of his face is
lightly squandered. He himself mol
unfrequently is the most ambitious
ure in society. Sickness comes IS a i "a
he is needy; hard times fall upon the
land and he is starving; old age like
the shades of night descends on his
emaciated frame and he is penniless
Evidently the social system which
produces such consequences is not
only wrong but wretched and evil to
the last degree; and yet such is the
state of things in Which we live.
There is a genuineness in culture
and refinement which no drapery can
supply though this fact apparently
is not understood by the Haunting
pdrodieS which one encounters now
on every hand. The poor in broad,
cloth and the holden in silks are
more readily recognized than when
clothed in jeans' and 'homespun.'-
There is an innate vulgarity in pre-.
tentious style which nofrippery can
llue ullu WLlCu dlouaeS III tle GAbNu-
ted mind no other thought but con-
temptuous disgust.
What has become of common 8enSe'
1t has disappeared from this genera
tion very mysteriously, Neither the
man nor the boy, the matron nor the
maid seems to comprehend in their
own regard the difference between
the name of a thing and its reality.
Airs styles Snowy costumes dis.
plays aud 'fopperies' of all kinds
are severely condemned by every
body and as severely initiated by
everybody in their own persons.-
This sentence following is worthy of
u little thought. People are mol
equal, whatever TO the contrary long.
tongued, invidious 'school-marm1s
say, but are just what they make
themselves; a few sensible in life and
manners and a great many silly in
thought, rude in word frivolous in
act."-Catholic Messenger.
Timber.
The time is coming when lands on