Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-11-18
CALIFORNIA ExTRAvAGANCE.
How Sudden Riches Induce PrOdigality--
Fast People Of Fast Country.

Inc behuency OF the business OF
California toward speculation has the
effect of stimulating people to immedi-
ate enjoyment. Before the completion
of the telegraph across the continent
merchandising was full of large risks
and sudden turns. A few weeks
might see a change from a scarcity to
a glut, or from a glut to scarcity.
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, by their remarkable fluctuations,
became its most remarkable feature.
The rapid rise in city lots and agri-
cultural lands, under the influence of
great additions to the population,
added to the fondness for bold pecuni-
airy ventures. Never did any country
offer bats so numerous or so seductive
to the gambling appetite, which is
strong in human nature, and usually
breaks out strongly wherever it has
chance. A government that does not
prohibit lotteries and gambling games
even those conducted honestly, as
many have been, on the principle of
giving only fifty or seventy-fye cents
in return for one dollar-is Justly con
sidered an accomplice in the imrover-
ishment of the people.
The spirit of 40 has not died out.
Many of those who we're here in the
flush era of the early placer mining
have not freed themselves from its in
fuence Our local experience has
proved that nothing does so much to
ruin men generally as a sudden change
to high wages. There never was a
more extravagant, wasteful, and dissi-
pated set of men than the old placer
miners. They who had been sober
and industrious, and had saved money
when they earned sixteen dollars a
month before coming to California,
became idle and drunken, and saved
nothing when they earned two hun
dred. They spent as fast as they made
their money. This was hot the uni
versal rule, but the custom was more
common than elsewhere. Poverty is
the mother of economy. The barren
soil of Scotland and New England,
and the pitiful little farms Of France
are the best breeding places for thrift.
Wellington said that a French army
could subsist in comfort, and Span
ish army in luxury, with supplies Oh
which an English army would starve
The evidence of California extrava-
gance are to be seen on every side
The dwellings, furniture, tables, anC
dress of the people indicate very libe
raj expenditure, San Francisco ha,
the reputation of buying the mos
costly wines, cigars and silks. A say
ing, not deserving to be dignifed as ;
proverb, declares that New York
dresses better than Paris, and Sar
Francisco better than New York.
The magnificent hotels and the pal
aces of a dozen millionaires are un-
surpassed, if eQualed, by anything
short of royalty in the luxury of theil
appointments. There is a large de-
mand for the best that can be had
| California consumes 10000 dozen oi
genuine sparkling wine annually, and
the Atlantic slope, with fifty times as
many people, does not consume sever
times as much champagne. Califor.
MIA uses GO pounds of sugar to the per
son in year, the Atlantic slope %
Great Britain 10, France and Holland
each 20, and Italy Z. Coffee is sold tC
the extent of one pound each for the
inhabitants in Great Britain and Italy
three in France, seven in Holland, ten
| in California, and seven in the other
States. OF tea, the average Californian
drinks six pounds in twelvemonth
the other American two; the Briton
four; the Frenchman and Italian less
than a quarter of a pound. The fig
ures for the consumption of many
other articles of comfort and luxury
are incomplete, large proportion Of
our imports coming through New
York and paying duty here, and being
forwarded to California under circum,
stances that leave no opportunity tC
ascertain their value and amount
Though it consumes largely of goods
imported at New York, with one.
fiftieth of the population, it pays one
thirtieth of the customs at San Fran.
cisco; and the average consumption Of
foreign products is at least twice a,
great there as on the Atlantic slope.
| The extravaganza of which we have
spoken is not confined to few; it is
characteristic of the community gen
erally,ss and it is worse, relatively,
among the poor than the rich. Many
Of the wealthy families owe their
wealth to simplicity of life more than
to large gains.