The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-04-15
American Extravagaaces.

lOI lue Odlcuuar year CLOSING WIN D0-
cember 81, 1881, show that our people
have not yet begun to curtail their pur-
chases of Injuries Of life. In 1879, the
last year of the period of business stag
nation, our importation of what may be
denominated luxuries amounted to
S6S, 200, 900, and in 1880, with the re-
newal of "good times" our people
bought of the same articles some $685.
100000 worth, an advance of $25, 000,-
000 1t was in that year that the people
began to feel like indulging their tastes
more freely. The figures of the Treas
ury bureau indicate that the ''fiush''
times are still with US, of which, per-
haps, there is no better sign than the
purchase Of precious stones. In 1879
the importation of diamonds and other
gems amounted to 81, 727, 900, in 1880
to IS, O83, 900, and last year to S8,727,-
600. The importation of gems is very
good commercial barometer. When the
times press hard upon the people the
importation is small, but with rising
commercial barometer, the dealers in
this class of luxuries begin to buy more
freely in anticipation of sure demand
for their costly wares. Since 1879 we
have more than doubled our purchase
OF foreign fancy goods, the figures be-
ing S4,730,000, against S9,01S,O00 last
year. In musical instruments, trade
which quickly senses any change in
the feelings Of the people who have
tastes to crafty, the imports have
doubled, rising from S702, 200 two years
ago, to $1,489,000 last year. In silk
goods, we are buying third more than
in 1879, the figures for last year being
1913, 100000, q decline of $2,000,000
from the imports for 1880; but this de-
cline is no indication of diminished pur-
chasing power among the people; it
may be ascribed to overstocking the
year before, and to changes in the fash
ions. The variation is, however, so slight
as to scarcely call for explanation. OF
silk hosiery, certainly luxury, pure and
simple, we are importing $424, 900 worth.
Of foreign jewelry we never buy heavily,
owing to the duties, and especially to the
great skill of our home manufacturers.
Our bill is this particular can be covered
by $459,0 900 for 1881. OF gloves, prin-
cipally kid, we continue to buy nearly
$4,000,000 worth yearly, but in hard
times people curtail their purchases of
gloves very quickly. AS with diamonds,
so with paintings and statuary; the in
creased purchase of these articles is
sure indication of the ''flushness'' of the
national pocket In 1879 we brought of
these works of art 81, 608,000, and last
year 81, 429, 900 worth. Foreign books
and engrayings made an item of over
$4,000, 900 in our imports, but two years
ago our book-buyers and print-collectors
were far less lavish of their money The
wine and spirit trade is importing nearly
So, 900, 900 worth more of these luxuries
than during the last panic year; the fig
ures for 1881 are S9,573,000 The de-
velopment of the brewing business in the
United States rendered it unnecessary to
buy more than 1881, 900 worth of Bass
"bitter'' and of German lager last year
OF foreign tobacco and cigars (mostly
Cuban) we bought in 1881 to the value
of 100000, an increase of about
$4,000 900 since 1879. Our importation
of foreign watches-thanks to the excel
lence, and, indeed, superiority, of
American machine-made watches-is
confined mainly to very costly English
and European makes, and also to the
very cheapest Swiss grades for the sup
ply of auction shops and the swindling of
the simple. But even in these goods our
imports are about double what they were
in 1879, the figures for 1881 being -, 31S,-
600. Of foreign leather goods, fine
harnesses, ETC., we are purchasing
as this rate of something over
100000 year Of fur and dressed
skins we imported last year 5000, 900
worth, as against some S3,000,000 in
1879. Our imports of foreign glassware
have increased from about 81, 900, 900 in
1879 to $2,749, 900 last year, and this does
not include our purchase of foreign mir
rors, which, in 1881, amounted to 1922
900. Our foreign button bill shows that
the domestic industry is not yet up to
the demands of taste and fashion. But
tons to the value of SO, 100000 came in
last year. Ia perfumery and cosmetics
little money would seem to have gone
great way, if we may believe the
French labels on the preparations on the
druggists counters. The bill for 1881
was only S475,000; but, as has been
limited, our manufacturers have grown
very expert in the preparation of
these wares. The carpet industry in this
country has reached high grade of per-
lection. and to this reason may be as
cribed the fact that $4,000 will cover
the purchase of foreign carpets last year.
French stationery, as sold in the shops,
is pretty sure to have been made in Wes-
tern Massachusetts,, for our imports of
foreign writing paper in 1881 only
amounted to 1000. In wooden dress
goods our foreign purchase fell from
$14, 607, 900 to Sl3,765,0 900 in 1881. In
foreign fruits there was an increased inn
portation, the values being S15, 315, 900,
as against $14, 401, 900 in $780, The
"gilded youth and returned tourist
patronized the foreign tailor and dress
maker to smaller extent in 1881 than
in 1880, the figures being $740,000
against 1893, 900 respectively. The fact
is that the foreign tailor does not suitth
American taste, except in the case of
over-English young swells. There is
lack of style in English tailoring, and
the peculiar cut of the garment is apt to
render the wearer ridiculous to the ordi-
nary American citizen. At the present
time we are buying abroad fully 80 per
cent. more of foreign Injuries than two