The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-11-14
CALIFORNIA ExTRAyAGANcE.

CALIFORNIA EXTRAyAGANCE-
How Sudden Riches Induce P~rodigality,
From the San Francisco Alta, ocl. 81.
OF all peoples the most extrayagant arc
the Californians. They not only spend
more absolutely because they earn more,
butthey spend more relatively. The great
motive OF economy-fear Of the future-is
much weaker here than elsewhere. A
large part of the population arc solitary
men, who think that no matter what
pecnniary loss may overtake them they
can always earn a living, and soon accu'
mulate a little money again. Poverty is
not accompanied by the same privations
or the same social discredit hero as in older
communities. The Californian who has
conducted himself US 4 gentleman know
that many OF his old acquaintance, even il
they.were not his friends when he was
prosperous, will give him aid in his need.
It is not in them to turn their backs;
sentiment and custom require them
TO be generous. The frequency Of the
great and sudden changes from pov-
erty to wealth, and from wealth to
poverty, breeds a feeling Of obligation to
one another. Many u%niortunates do not
get the benefit OF this mutual h~elpfulness,
but others do, and itintluencesthe general
mode oflife.
The tendency OF tho business Of Califor.
MIA toward speculation has the effect OF
stimulating people to immediate enjoy
ment. Before the completion of the
telegraph acrsss the continent merchandise
ing 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
a 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, be-
came It's most remarkable feature. The
rapid rise in city lots and agricultural
lands, under the influence OF great addl-
tons to the population, addedt to the fond
ness for bold pecuniary ventures. Never
did n country offer bats so numerous
or so seductive to the gambling appetite,
which is strong in human nature, and us
ually breaks out strongly wherever it has
q Cnnuce' - governments t..e" SNSS HN'
prohibit lotteries and gambling games
even those conducted honestly, rs many
have been, on the principle OF giving only
fifty or scventy.fve cents in return for 81
is Justly considered al acc0mplice in the
impoverishment OF the people.
The spirit OF 10 has died out. Many Of
those who were here in the flush era OF the
early placer mining have not freed them
selves from its influence. Our local OK
pcrienCe has proved that nothing does 80
ruin mon generally as a sudden change to
high wages. There never was a more eX.
trayaCant, wasteful, and dissipated class OF
men than the old placer miners. They who
had been sober and industrious, and had
saved money when they earned SIG a
month, before coming to California, be-
came idle and drunken, and saved nothing
when they earned 500. They spent as
fast as they made their money. This was
not the universal rule, but the custom was
more common than elsewhere. Poverty
Ia the mother OF economy. The barren
soil OF Scotland and New England, and
The pitiiul little farms Of France are the
best breeding places for thrift. yelling.
ton said that a French army could subsist
in comfort, and q Spanish army ! luxury,
with supplies on which an English army
would starve.
The evidences OF Californian extraya'
gance are to be seen IN every side. The
dwellings, furniture, tables, and dress O.
the people indicate very liberal expendi,
turc. San Francisco has the reputation o.
buving tho most costly wines, cigars, and
silks. A saving, not deserving to be digni'
fed as a proverb,d declares that New York
dresses better than Paris, and San Francis
RI hotter than New York" The magniti'
cent hotels, and the palaces Of a dozen mil
l%ionaires. arc unsurpassed, II equaled, BY
anything short OF royalty in the luxury o
their appointments. There is large de
mand for the best that can be had. Cali
fornia consumes 10000 dozen OF genuine
sparkling wine annually, and the Atlantic
slope, with fifty times rs many people,
does not consume seven times as much
champagne. California uses sixty pounds
Of sugar TO the person in a year,the Allan
tic slope twenty-five, Great Britain forty,
France and Holland each twenty, and lta
~ seven. Coffee is sold TO the extent o.
one pound each for the inhabitant In dreal
Britain and Italy, three in France, sever
in Holland, ten in this State, and seven II
tho other States. OF tea, the average Gal
iiornian drinks six pounds in a twelve
month, the other American two, the pm
ton four, the Frenchman and Italian les
than q quarter Of a pound. The figure:
iorthe consumption ofmany other articles
OF comfort and luxury are incomplete {
large proportion OF our imports COMING
through New York andpaying duty there
and being forwarded to California under
Circumstances that leave no opportunity
TO ascertain their value or amount Thougr
It consumes largely Of foreign goods i'm
ported at New York, with one-tiitieth o
The population, It pays one.thirtieth otth'
customs at San Francisco, and the average
consumption OF foreign products is atIeas
twice as greathere as on the Atlantic slope
The extravaganza Of which we have spok'
en- is not confined to q few II Is characters
tic Of tho community generally, and II y
worse, relatively, among the poor than To,
rich. Many OF tho wealthy families owl
ia woaItk m simnlicitv al life more thar