The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-04-25
An Old Fogy Rides His Hohhx.
For the DIspatch.l
ECONOMY DUTY IN PUBLIC AS WELL AS IN
PRIVATE AFFAIRS,

PRIVATE AFFAIRS
Much OF the fancy OF our people for ele-
giant public structures gets its origin in the
habits Of the citizens OF individual extrav-
agance and display, and it is iudicious to
discuss the question Of economy as relating
TO both.
The allurements 10 expenditure OF both
a public aud private character are ever fas-
cinating, and each qualification OF the GRAY
ing for the grand and gorgeous encourages
Us IN new adventures at ornamentation till
a debt Is either imposed on pOsterity on
must be repudiated by US in the near fu-
ture. At length moral sensibilties are
blunted by the inconvenience OF obligations
and the influence OF an oyerpowerne de-
sire for show, till almost all restraint is
hooted behind US, or vanity, at the bottom
Of it all. is softened down under so many
pleasing terms as to cheat us Of all social
simplicity, and shall not say OF the jewel
OF public integrity
Good taste, beautiful style. becoming
elegance, stately structure, refined culture,
graceful design, models Of dignity, exalted
specimens OF progress, lofty cmblens Of
public PRIDE, rare specimens Of genius,
honorable evidence Of public improve
ment, the admiration Of present and rising
generations what is 10 become Of Us
where all these pleasing attributes OF vanity
are TO be applaudcd. propagated. aud fast
ened upon the vtals of public necessities,
regardless Of reason or the happiness and
welfare OF society?
No sooner is some great hall, undertaken
to crafty Il clamor for muniticence Of
structure. completed, than it, walls ere
lined with beggarly specimen Of human
wretchedness and Ignorance. We are b
have a new City Hall, and the day il is done
it Will hardly be as good, il even as beauti-
full. as was the classic structure we have
torn down bad it been properly repaired.
One Of our old and much.esteemed citi-
Gems, inhamed with architecture. has gone
into ecstacies OF delight over the subject.
hailing the advent Of its grandeur as il he
were impelled by the romance OF some
young advocate OF sightseeing. Such en-
thuSiasm over the matter OF one 50 cNpc-
rienced and wise in questions Of public
good is evidence OF the contagious nature
OF display OF the present day. He
fancies the beautiful columns and arches,
dOOrways and stoOpS, and grand coruice
and pilasters. inches and mOudings that
are TO immOrtaliZe our peoples greatness.
But who will feed the poor or listen 10
their cries when winter has come; All.
the -four courts,' with their frescOed cell
ing and marble baluSters about the judicial
bar; the marble aud granite stairWayS and
platforms Tor the judges, and then the
beautiful seats that will gllSten all around
with mirrOred polish for clouds OF black
auditory who will cong1egate there with
greasy yermin and fetoI loaded garments
10 grace the great halls. o the "fOUr
courts" and the repulsiye masses OF ignO-
rance and vice that will attend as lockers
on
But what's the use of speaking OF these
thingsl They tell liz The voters have de-
clarcd for the City Hall; and so indi0er-
ence to cur fOllies is witnessed on every
side.
The rich have ruined the poor. They
have tempted them INTO habits they cannot
support and in mercy VIII not fOrbear.
IT'S humanity that's poor. The rich know
not theirs, and the poor think il best 70 be
ruined to ape the rich than observe rea-
sonable restraints. No better lesson can
be impressed on our people nor on the
young and rising generation than that OF
economy, and that it i, ruinous to live
strained and artificial existence.
We have come to know no limit TO our
fancy and indulgence. The plain attire OF
former days has fled. Poor old "Seycn
and eight yards calico" Is buried, 10 he
seen no more. Perchance a sixteen or
twenty yards OF that once admired staple
is now and then seen, but it will have been
done up by paid waSherwoman, and not
our own hands, at a cost OF seyenty-iiye
cents TO doliar-iust about what was the
entire cost Of these dresses in old times.
The young men are far too reckless OF eX-
pcnse. and are tolerated in habits OF idle
and senseess qualifications that are appal-
ling to think OF. And what load OF
wretchedness is heaped on the dear little
children in the frivolous presents that are
wasted on them and that implant in them
a restless and eyer-complaining entreaty for
more.
With a city greatly in debt, in need of
works that wIli give substantial comforts,
and for the money expended would derive
actually compenSating returns 10 its trea-
sury, we are urged 10 spend an enormous
sum in constructing a City Hall that Is
to cost before we are done Sl,000,000 that
will bring back little, while having a tenn
porarv one that will surely do for d time
longer, TIL our affairs have become more
settled.
We must limit our fances and cultivate
plain living. {.