Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-04-13

cannot afiOru IL 10 lOllON tucl "eoeS
ways Probably no community under
the sun is as much disposed as this Is 20
live beyond It's means. SO lar as ap-
pearances 20, there is very little dliier-
euce between persons OF ample income
and those living from hand to mouth.
The two classes dress very much allEe,
frequent the same quarters, SLOW equai
disregard OF money. Out OF town peO'
ple as well as travelling Europeans are
struck by the general and conspicuous
extravaganza OF New Workers. Men
without any visible means OF support go
wherever gold will carry them, and do
whatever gold will permit. Women In
every walk, not plainly pinched by
penury, are brave III attire ana orha,
ment. The stages, horse cars, elevated
railway trains are gay with
Their Costly Robes,
and morning, noon and night ialrly
sparkle with their diamonds. Whence
comes this excess of finery2 How are
the dollars got that buy its Who knowsf
Who asks the question?
The sight of such inappropriate and
unaccountable splendors is 80 common
as to hardly attract attention, signs OF
superiluous display, OF reckless disDnrse'
ments, are on every hand. Everybody
seems rich here, and yet riches are con-
fined TO comparatively few. But what
matters it? To have that which
riches bring is equivalent, practically,
to riches. and TO achieve this end, IRE
spective OF the means, appears to be the
chief aim OF the average Manhattanese.
No city, modern or ancient, has or
has ever had such an opulent variety OF
necessities and supertluities as New
York, where, in truth, superiuliles
have long been necessities. Apart from
the boundless resources which the
broad Republic provides, all iorelgn
lands Weld their best and costliest Tor
the qualification ci its people. The
purest diamonds OF Brazil, the daintiest
laces OF Belgium, the choicest silks and
velvets OF France the handsomest rugs
and stuffs OF the East, the most delicate
wines OF Bordeaux, Burgundy, and
Champagne, find their readiest mar ket
here. Every kingdom in the world IS
ransacked;
EFery ocd ID
every remote corner of the globe is eX-
plored, to furnish them with new pleas
ures and new sources OF expense.
Turkey, Smyrna, Persia, India, China,
and Japan toll for them; the treasures
of every quarter oi the world are laid at
their feet; whatever labor, skill, or art
can devise comes, soon or late, TO grace
their gilded homes. The luxuries OF
every cline are packed up and trans
ported to New York, which takes every
thing and anything that untold wealth
can buv. There is no more need TO
travel. The products OF all regions can
be found within their gates; stroll
through Broadway and Filth avenue
reveals what journeys to the furthest
corners of the world will not show.
The private life Of thousands of New
York's citizens exceeds in material re-
finements and superb comforts those ol
anv age. The historic feasts OF Lucullus
and Apicius were coarse and barbarous
compared with many that are enjoyed
and unchronicled, every day aud night,
in the metropolis. The etieminste days
OF the Regents OF Philippe dOrleans are
eclipsed by,
The Social Glories
of Manhattan in 1881. Luxury has come
TO have a new meaninI with the peo-
pie here; il enters every crevlce OF their,
embroidered homes, and surrounds
their commonest needs with elegant
convenience. They pamper themselves
to excess; they have lost the art OF
ordinary living; they hourly demand
what would have been miracles iii the
early half of the century. Our grand
fathers would have been sure that they
dreamed could they have seen one title
of their ordinary splendors. Fifty years
have wrought marvels in fabrics, art,
science ami invention. Each OF the
latest marvels is at their hand, and
obeys their unconscious will. The tales
Of the "Arabian Nights" read by the
light Of the present, lose their wonder,
for they have been more than eQua!ed
by facts 50 familiar as 10 seem prosaic.
Numberlcss families spend fortunes an
nually, and think that they practice
economy. They have literally no taste
unindulged, no wish unenjoyed. Tney
are sated with delights. and wander far
and wide, only to discover that the full
est means OF the most strained gratiiica-
ton are mainly at home. Such is life
IN the empire city OF our great Republic.
J. F. b.