The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-11-28
CALIFORNIA ExTRAvAGANCE.

| CALlkUkNIA EAIhAN AGASCk.
How ssddes Riches I,Aace Prsdissllsy
FrOn The s-s Fnsc-oo Ala oa-s
OF all peoples the mos, eItravagant are
the CaliforniAns. They not only spend
more absolutely because they earn more,
but they spend more relatively. The great
motive for ecouomy-fear Of the future
: much weaker here than elsewhere. A
large portion of the population ars solita-
~ men. who think that no matter wha,
P.euniary io~s may overtake them they
can always earn living. and soon accu-
mulate little money again. Poverty Is
not accompanied by the same privaficn.
or the same social discredit here as IN obi
er communities. The Californian who has
conducted himself rs a gentleman knows
that many Of his old acquaintance. even il
they were not his friends when he was
prosperous. will give him and in his need.
Ii Is not IN them to turn their backs.
sentiment and custom require them TO IL
generous. The frequency Of the great
and sudden changes from poverty %
wealth, and from wealth TO poverty,
breeds a feeling Of obligation TO one
another. Many unfortunates do not get
the benefit Of this mutual helplfulness,
the Others do. and II Influences the gener-
al mode Of life
The tendency Of the business Of Califor-
MIA toward speculation has the effect Of
stimulating people to Immediate ENJOY
ment. Before the completion Of the tele-
graph across the continent merchandising
4 Sill Is l..
4 few weeks might see change from 4
sca city to a slut. or frvm a glut 10 scar.
city. There was no regularity IN prices
or supplies. After the opening Of the
Comstock Lode. the shares were thrown
into the San Francisco market. and, b,
their remarkable fluctuations. became II.
most remarkable feature. The rapid rise
IN city lots and agricultural lands, under
the influence Of great additions 10 the pop
ulation, added to the fondness for bold
pecuniary ventures. Never did any ooun.
try offer bats more numerous or so seduc-
tive to the gambling appetite. which Is
/ strong IN human nature, and usually
breaks out strongly wherever IL has a
chance. a government that does not pro
hibit lotteries and gambling games-even
I those conducted honestly ON the principi,
If giving only 20 or a. cents for al,
Justly considered an aocompiice in the i'm.
! poverishment Of the people.
The spirit of - has died ont. Many al
those who were here in the flush era Of
tine early placer mining have not freed
/ themselves from its influence. Our local
2, perience has proved that nothing does
/ - ruin men generally a. a sudden change
| 20 high wages. There never via more
| extravagant, wasteful and dissipated set
of men than the old placer miners. They
who had been sober and industrious, and
had saved money wbep they earned flt
| a month. before coming 10 California. be-
came idle and drunken. and saved nothing
when they earned $40. They spent a,
fast As they made their money. This wa.
not the universal rule. but the custom was
more common than elsewhere Poverty j,
the mother of economy. The barren soil
Of Scotland and New England. and the
pitiful little farms OF France are Oh. best
breeding places for thrift Wellington
said that French army could .ub-ist in
comfort, and Spanish army in luxury,
with supplies on which an English army
would starve.
The evidences Of California extrava-
gance are TO lie seen ON every side. The
dwellings. furniture, tables. and dress Of
the people indicate very liberal expendi-
ture. San Francisco has the reputation Of
buying the most costly wines. cigars and
silks. A saying. not deserving TO be dig
nifiei ~ a proyerb, declares that New
York dresses better than Paris. and San
Francisco better than .lew York" The
magnificent hotels. and the palaces of a
dozen millIonaires. are unsurpassed. IL
equaled. by anything short Of royalty in
the luxury Of their appointments. There
Is large demand for the best that can t,e
had. California consumes 10000 dozen II
genuine sparkling wine annually. and the
Atlantic slope. with fifty times as many
people does not consume seven times
as much champagne. California
uses sixty pounds u sugar 10 the
person IN year, the Atlantis slope
twenty-five. Great Britain forty, France
and Holland each twenty. and Italy .ey-
en-. Coffee IL sold Ia the extent of one
pound each for the mhabitant IN Great
Britain and Italy. three in France. seven
IN Holland. ten in this State. and seven in
the other States. Of tea. the average Cal
iiornian drink. six pound, IN twelve
month. the other American two. the Br1t-
on four. the Frenchman and Italian less
than quarter OF a pound. The figures
for the consumption Of many other articles
Of comfort and luxury are incomplete. a
large proportion o. our imports coming
through New York and paying duty there.
and being forwarded to California un,ler
circumstance. that leave no opportunity 10
asc'rtain their value or amount Though
# consumes largely Of foreign good. I'M
ported At New York, with one-fifiiefh Of
erage consumption Of foreign product. is a
least twice ~ great here a. ON the Atlantic
at .lo,e The extravaganza of which ve
have spoken Is not confined to few: IL j,
Of the community generally.
and II u wore, relatively. among IA. poor
than the rich. Many Of the wealthy fauii-
li.- o-e their wealth 10 simplicity 81 life
NOR. than b. large gains.