Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-09-03

Necessity OF Economy.

Necessity Of Economy.
The Charlottesville Chronicle has the
following well-tinaed remarks upon the
above subject:
1--WE incline to hope that the heart OF
the average citizen of Virginia is all
right at the bottom on the subject of
justice between man and man. So far
as his knowledge extends he is sound
on the public credit. If he leans at all
towards readjustmentit is under the de-
fusion that circumstances have altered
cases. But he still holds that whatever
is equitably due ought to be paid.
There is, however, another point in
which we fear this decayed gentleman
is less orthodox. He does not realize
the obligation of self-denial. Economy
is not one of his cherished principles
The idea of saving anything now for
the sake of the future is foreign to his
philosophy. And besides, if he desired
it ever SO much, the poor fellow would
not know where to begin. He was born
with certain looseness in his compost
ton, and his acquired habits are consis-
tent with the hereditary influences that
have moulded his character.
1t is high time that Virginians should
begin to study economy. We must
economic in liquor, tobacco, dogs, and
dress. The Moffett register testifes
against US every month, and shows an
enormous expenditure for drink beyond
the demands of health or necessity
Millions of cigars and pipe-stems annu-
ally consume to smoke and ashes the
funds of an impoverished people
Troops of useless dogs are boarded in
families that can scarcely find food for
their children. Our women load them
selves with finery to such an extent that
almost every church presents a dress
circle that mocks the solemn lessons of
the Gospel on self-denial and the Cross.
Poverty itself is wasteful of its hard
earned bread, and with its back to the
cold Winters blast consumes its cart
loads of unnecessary fuel on the hearth.
The French people, after the Franco
German war, rose from their great ca
lamity, and provided for the payment
of the immense indemnity imposed up
on them. The effort has been severe, but
successful and even prosperous, and to-
day the French Republic, in its calm at
titude of self-respect and self-reliance,
presents one of the grandest moral spec
tacles to the world. The secret of their
triumph over the consequences of an
overwhelming catastrophe is to be found
in the economical habits of the people.
All writers upon the condition and char
acter of the French society agree in tes-
tifying that domestic economy is better
understood and more thriftily practiced
there than in any other country. The
example should not be lost.u
THE THIRD SEK.-A few years age
there was discussion anoat regarding
the epicene or third sex, but there never
was such a case known as that of the
r Chevalier D'Eon, whose gender was q
/ matter of doubt during his long life O.
J eighty-two years, and the question new.
er was settled until medical examina
J ton was made of his body after his
, death. In his early life he wore male
} costume, and was an advocate in Paris
When he was underathirty, Louis XIV
sent him on secret mission to st. Pc
teTsburg, Having no beard and an Ell
Terminate face and manner, he adopted
: feminine garb, and with woman's tao
and cunning ingratiated himself in the
} favor Of the Czarina Elizabeth, achieved
/ his political object and returned to
| Il
81 He revisited Russia soon after in mas
cUline attire, palmed himself off or
3 Elizabeth as the brother of her former
favorite, became a subject CT court scan
2 dai on account of his relations with thu
Empress, and once more prospered il
his negotiations. He went back to his
native land, served in the army and ir
J several diplomatic missions, degenerateG
r into a mere adventurer, and yet enjoyed
: pension from the King. He lived ir
, London for while, and during tina
; period heavy wagers were laid upon hi
/ sex. A lawsuit was brought before
. Chief Justice Mansfield to decide one O
these bets, and the decision was in favo
!; OF the plaintiff, who introduced wit
! nesses to prove that D'Eon was a wo
man. These all swore to the French
mans feinininity as fact within thei
t personal knowledge, and their testimo
| ny could not be successfully impeached
Years after he returned to Versailles
and Louis XVI, who had succeeded t.
, the throne, in a freak ordered him t.
l exchange his drago )n's uniform for pet
f tfcoats. ONCE more he slipped over t.
. London, and while there the Frencl
revolution broke out and he was de
clared exiled. He supported himself b1
selling his library, teaching the swort
exercise and picking up hand-to-moatf
living. AS he approached old age h'
{! journsyed back to France and petitlonet
the National Assembly, under the name
) of Madame D'I3on, for leave to re-entel
! the army, which was refused. Agar
. he retraced his steps to England, where
he died in petticoats. retaining them tt
/ the end. After his death illustriou.
surgeons made an examination of the
; body and decided that D'Eon was {
man. 4 stranger career history hardly
records.