The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-03-21
,Itt. iii i once. by diyerting this stream

wealth, all at once, By diyerting this stream
OF xpenditare TO the treasurer
Two millipns-en to pay SIX per
cent. on s32, ZOO, 0O0-are annually spent IN
Virginia In cigars and chewing and smok-
ing-tobacco. The statesmen md clergy
men who have SO vigorously and right
eously advocated Justice TO our creditors
by leading off in this department OF SELF
denial. a3 doubtless Trey are ready 10 40,
will bring in many thousands to be laid
upon the altar OF patriotism otherwise
their arguments will vanish in smoke,
In the Iuxuries Of sugar, coffee, and tea
we spend annually Sd, 000, 600. The useless
dogs OF the State cost 100000, including
the sheep which they kill.
Theatres, bills, parties, wines, ana me
dinners in city and country during tue WIZ
ter, and eytravagancics at waterlns-places
and other seats Of pleasure during the sum-
mer, including opcra-dresses ana opera-
glasses, and other dresses I'm becoming 70 an
Impoverished people, together with eXpen,
sive toys and yanities for our Children, ana
including the hire Of hacks, phaetons, pug,
gies. &C., IL set down at an average :ol Ply
to each family in the State would yield
81. 600, 900. But $50, or S5,O00,000, would
perhaps be nearer the truth-for it must be
-
rich people in debt. as well as those out OF
debt, waste more or less money every year
in weak compliance with pride and RASH
ion. When these things demand our money
we give it, and give it freely; though not
only the State pleads for deliyerance from
dishonor, but suffering world cries for re-
lief to our Christian ears.
In this connection there is 4 matter well
worthy OF consideration by parents and all
other citizens who arc interested III the
youth OF our land-yiZ., the expensive
scenes that attend the closing exercises OF
our universities, colleges, female Institutes,
and academies. The poverty OF many pa
rents who are required to furnish their sons
and daughters for these occasions, and the
wants Of the State, are important arguments
against the style in which they are main
tanned. But there are high conscientious
of morality and religion which outweigh
the pecuniary question. 1t is most incon-
cruous for an institution in Virginia at the
present day, and supported by It's funds,
to permit its students to spend TWO hundred
dollars simply in ornaments on the walls OF
a room for ball; and it IS grlevOus ana
intolerabe that Its patrons should be eN-
Dected to provide their sons with money Tor
such folly. But the attend ant vices which
flourish In this season OF carnival under
the tacit approval OF learned, devoted, and
religious teachers, give an aspect to all such
proceedings which refers us to the very
foundations OF public and private virtue.
All that has been said, however, OF our
waste OF money has moral bearing. Every
dollar saved Dy denial OF scli-indulgence
gives vigor to the public health, mental and
bodily, as we'll as one hundred cents to the
public treasury. Every dollar thus diverted
contributes another dollar, perhaps five dol
lars, to the general prosperity.
Much might be said OF republican SIM
plicity and the robust qualities upon which
national glory has i'll the infancy OF nations
been founded. Luxury has been the weak
ness and proved to be the ruin OF many
people. It is that, and not OUR poverty,
which reduces Us to our present straits.
Since writing the above I sec in the Cen
trail Presbyterian an editorial on this sub
ject in which Dr.. Brown, On the authority
Of Senator Bradley 7. johnson, estimates
the drinking Of the State ut S14,0OO,00a.
All OF my estimates are, believe, below
the facts; and the aggregate OF all the in
dulgencics TO which reference he's been
made, instead OF &20,OO0,000, as this article
shows, would probably reach to $50, 900. 900
or rorc-cnough to pay in one year the
whole debt, principal and interest. Add
for every dollar thus spent another dollar
at least for loss OF time and strength and
life in the pursuit OF vicious pleasure, and
the result will be, besides the moral waste,
which cannot DC estimated, SG0,000,C00.
After liberal allowance Cor all the luxury
which may be considered necessary to the
dccency and refinement OF society. we
might, in any year, pay all the interest and
a large part OF the principal, and still have
more pleasure than we ought to desire.
MINIMUS.